Background: It is hypothesized that the impacts of life events accumulate and can trigger andpromote atherosclerosis in susceptible individuals. In the current study, the correlation of totallife stressors during 1 year was investigated relative to coronary artery disease (CAD).Methods: The study population consisted of 148 males and 152 females aged 35–76 years.The subjects were classified as CAD cases and controls according to the results of coronaryangiography. The severity of CAD was scored on the basis of the number and the extent of lesionsat coronary arteries. The stressful events of life were assessed using Holmes‑Rahe Questionnaireand was presented as total psychological stress scores per year (TPSS).Results: The frequency of cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension was moreprevalent in CAD cases than control subjects. The levels of TPSS were increased in patientswith CAD compared to the controls (160.3 ± 71.3 vs.139.8 ± 66.5, P=0.020). TPSS was alsoassociated positively with the levels of uric acid, erythrocytes counts, erythrocyte sedimentationrate, aspirin consumption, and negatively with high‑density lipoprotein‑cholesterol and apo‑AI.In logistic regression analysis, TPSS correlated with the occurrence of CAD by the odds ratio of1.773 (1.073–2.930), P=0.025, but the association was weakened after adjustment for classicalrisk factors, especially hypertension. TPSS exhibited significant association with the severity ofCAD [F (3, 274) =2.6, P=0.051].Conclusions: The results suggest that TPSS are associated with the occurrence and severityof CAD significantly, but the association is not independent.