Effect of stress on alteration of haematological parameters: A preliminary study on preclinical medical students in Malaysia

Authors : Mohammad Ahmed İssa AL-HATAMLEH, İmilia ISMAİL, Omar Mahmoud AL-SHAJRAWI, Tengku Mohammad ARIFF

Pages : 852-860

Doi:10.37212/jcnos.683403

View : 14 | Download : 12

Publication Date : 2019-06-23

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of stress on haematological parameters among preclinical medical students. A cross-sectional study has been conducted on a total of 105 preclinical medical students at Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(UniSZA);, Terengganu, Malaysia. The validated depression anxiety stress scales-21 insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(DASS-21); questionnaire was distributed and blood samples were collected from the subjects on the same day to perform full blood count insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(FBC); test. There was no significant association between levels of stress with red blood cells insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(RBCs); count and indices. However, a significant negative association was identified between stress level and white blood cells insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(WBCs); count insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r= - 0.204, p ≤ 0.05);. Furthermore, no significant association was found between levels of stress and platelets count and indices, except the mean platelets volume insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(MPV);; a significant positive association between students measured MPV and their perceived stress insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(r= 0.195, p ≤ 0.05); has been noted. Mean WBCs count was decreased, while mean MPV was increased with increasing stress levels. Furthermore, the structural equation model predicted that some parameters were near to be significantly associated with stress, which needs further investigation. This study provided novel insights about the potential effects of stress on blood cells and platelets. The results will help the researchers to uncover the critical areas of increasing ROS and oxidative stress caused by chronic life stress.
Keywords : Stress, Oxidative stress, Haematological parameters, Medical students, Malaysia