Abstract Body (Do not enter title and authors here): Introduction: Perceived stress is known as the feeling of uncontrollability in one’s life and the inability to cope with the amount of stress one is experiencing due to one’s circumstances. There is evidence indicating that perceived stress may be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, it is unclear whether perceived stress is associated with higher left ventricular mass index (LVMI), a measure of target organ damage and strong predictor of CVD.

Aim: We examined the association between perceived stress and LVMI.

Methods: The Masked Hypertension Study is a multi-site study that assessed the prevalence and predictors of masked hypertension in working adults from the New York Metropolitan area. A total of 1011 participants were recruited for the study; 826 participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale questionnaire and an echocardiogram. The perceived stress scale is a 14-item likert scale that assesses different situations that affects our perceived stress or our feelings in certain situations. It has a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being never to 5 being very often. LVMI was determined according to the 2D method based on the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) recommendations.
Linear regression models were specified predicting LVMI from perceived stress. Covariates were sex, race/ethnicity, age, BMI, systolic bp, diastolic bp, and caregiving status.

Results: Of the 826 participants, 40.7% were male, 6.9% were Black, 11.9% were Hispanic/Latinx , and 48.79% were caregivers. Mean (SD) age was 45.3 (10.3) years, mean body mass index was 27.6 (5.3) kg/m², and mean SBP and DBP were 114.7 (12.0) and 74.8 (8.5). Mean perceived stress score was 21.8 (7.6) and mean LVMI was 63.3 (15.7) gm/m².
Contrary to our hypothesis, perceived stress was not significantly associated with LVMI, B = -0.00, 95% CI: -0.13, 0.13, p= 0.98.

Conclusion: There was not an association between perceived stress and LVMI. Future research should examine whether other types of stresses/stressors are related to LVMI and the implications of this for patients and their health.