Gender as a moderator in the relationship between anxiety and carotid intima-media thickness: The PREVENCION study

Abstract Background Previous studies regarding the association of atherosclerotic risk and anxiety have yielded conflicting results. Carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) is an early marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. We aimed to determine the relationship between anxiety and cIMT in Andean Hispanics and examine the moderating effects of gender in this relationship. Methods We studied 496 adults enrolled in a population-based study in Peru. cIMT was measured with high-resolution ultrasonography. Anxiety levels were assessed with the HADS anxiety score. Results Median anxiety scores were 6 (IQR = 4–8) in men and 8 (IQR = 5–11) in women. We found a significant moderating effect of gender on the association between the HADS anxiety score and cIMT. Among men, the HADS anxiety score was significantly associated with cIMT ( β = 0.15; P = 0.004) after adjusting for age, education, employment status, SBP, DBP, fasting glucose, diabetes mellitus, smoking and LDL cholesterol. Other significant predictors of cIMT in men were age ( β = 0.60; P