Chronic inflammation associated with everyday stress, lifestyle and socioeconomic factors may be linked to changes in the heart long before cardiovascular symptoms become noticeable, according to a large UK study involving nearly 480,000 adults.
Researchers from the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences and Imperial College London analysed UK Biobank data to examine the relationship between inflammation, heart structure and cardiovascular risk. The study used a blood marker called glycoprotein acetyls, or GlycA, together with heart imaging and genetic information.
The researchers found that people in the highest inflammation group had a 43% higher risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke, compared with those in the lowest group. The study also identified differences in heart structure among people with higher inflammation levels.
Higher Inflammation Linked to Changes in Heart Structure
According to the findings, higher GlycA levels were associated with several structural and functional changes in the heart. These included thicker heart walls, smaller heart chambers and reduced heart filling.
Such changes may develop without obvious symptoms and could potentially appear years before more serious cardiovascular problems become apparent. The researchers stressed that the findings show an association between chronic inflammation and cardiovascular risk rather than meaning that every person with higher inflammation will develop heart disease.
The study also found that higher inflammation levels were strongly associated with factors including psychological distress, lower socioeconomic status, smoking and excess body fat.
Stress, Lifestyle and Social Factors Examined
Professor Declan O’Regan, British Heart Foundation Chair of Cardiovascular AI at Imperial College London and Head of the Computational Cardiac Imaging Group at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences, said the research suggests that many people could have inflammation that is affecting the heart without obvious symptoms.
The researchers found that inflammation was connected not only with established cardiovascular risk factors but also with environmental and social circumstances. Genetic differences were also found to influence how individuals responded to factors associated with inflammation.
The study identified several inflammatory proteins from the interleukin-1 and TNF families as possible contributors to the heart changes observed. Some of these proteins are already being investigated as targets for treatments, although further research is needed to determine whether reducing this inflammation can prevent cardiovascular disease.
What the Findings Could Mean for Heart Health
The researchers said the results could help scientists better understand how inflammation connects lifestyle, social conditions and genetic factors with cardiovascular disease.
The study also raises the possibility that combining blood-based inflammation measurements with genetic risk information could eventually help identify people who may benefit from earlier intervention. However, the researchers noted that genetic susceptibility or difficult life circumstances do not mean that someone is destined to develop heart disease.
The research, titled Gene-environment interactions shape cytokine-mediated inflammation and cardiovascular risk, was published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. The study was funded by the Medical Research Council and the British Heart Foundation.
Disclaimer
This article summarises findings from a scientific study and is intended for general information only. The reported associations do not establish that stress or inflammation alone causes heart disease in an individual. Anyone concerned about cardiovascular risk or persistent health symptoms should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional.