Professional stress and inflammatory markers in physicians.

Unlabelled: Recent changes in society might increase stress perception in physicians. The Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ) is a widely used self-reported instrument to measure psychosocial characteristics of jobs. The biological pathways through which professional stress might increase cardiovascular disease risk are better explained nowadays. The objectives of this study were: to determine the connection between professional stress evaluated with Job Content Questionnaire, in a group of physicians, and some bioumoral markers, including cortisol, and to analyse gender differences.

Material And Methods: There were included 118 presumed healthy physicians from Cluj county, aged between 30 and 60 years, with medical specialites. All the results were analyzed and compared by means, standard deviations and alpha coefficients of validity. Were measured the following bioumoral markers: total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, fibrinogen, high sensitivity-CRP, and serum cortisol. Serum cortisol levels were measured in the morning (between 8.00-9.00 am).

Results And Discussion: 12% of the total group had fasting plasma glucose over the normal range, 26% had total cholesterol over 200 mg/dl, 8% had triglycerides over 150 mg/dl, 6% had HDL-cholesterol under the protection limits, 24% had elevated fibrinogen values, 14% had elevated hs-CRP, and 20% had slightly elevated morning cortisol levels. We found that low coworker support affects more men than women, and that there are positive correlations between depression and serum cortisol both in men and in women, and also in the total group. There are no significant correlations in total group between depression and other inflamatory markers; only in women there are some positive correlations with fibrinogen and CRP.

Conclusion: Professional stress is connected with inflammation and this could be a pathway through cardiovascular disease. There are some gender differences in stress perception which should be taken into account.