Association between allostatic load and cardiac structural and functional abnormalities in young adults with serious mental disorders

Objective: Allostatic load refers to the pathophysiological consequences of uncompensated adaptation to chronic stress. Few studies have investigated the effect of allostatic load on cardiac health in patients with serious mental disorders (SMDs), a population at high risk of cardiac mortality. Herein we evaluated associations between allostatic load and cardiac structure and function in young adults with SMDs.

Method: A total of 106 participants aged younger than 45 years underwent echocardiographic study, blood biochemistry examination, and blood cell count analysis. Echocardiographic imaging was conducted in accordance with recommendations of the American Society of Echocardiography and European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging. Allostatic load index was calculated using 15 measures representing cardiovascular, metabolic, and inflammatory or oxidative stress markers.

Results: The SMD group exhibited a significantly higher allostatic load index than did control (Cohen's d = 0.59). Additionally, they exhibited a greater left ventricular relative wall thickness (LVRWT, Cohen's d = 0.39) and a less favorable mitral valve E/A ratio (Cohen's d = 0.31), left ventricular ejection fraction (Cohen's d = 0.51), and global longitudinal strain (Cohen's d = 0.71). After demographic and clinical characteristics were adjusted for, multiple linear regression revealed that allostatic load index was positively associated with LVRWT (β = 0.255) and negatively associated with mitral valve E/A ratio (β = -0.247) in the SMD group.

Conclusions: This is the first study to suggest that allostatic load may play a critical role in accelerated adverse cardiac remodeling among young patients with SMDs. Future studies should elucidate the underlying mechanisms.