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Type A behavior and coronary atherosclerosis
B Sparagon1, M Friedman, W S Breall
1Meyer Friedman Institute, UCSF-Mount Zion Medical Center, 1600 Divisadero Street, Box 1608, San Francisco, CA 94143-1608, USA. sparagon@mfisf.com
Objectives:
To evaluate whether the pathogenesis of type A behavior may involve the premature development of coronary atherosclerosis.
Background:
Type A or coronary-prone behavior is considered a possible risk factor for the development of coronary heart disease. Premature development of coronary atherosclerosis is suspected to play a role. Utilizing electron beam computed tomography, one can accurately determine the degree of coronary artery calcification, which is reflective of coronary atherosclerosis.
Methods:
We performed a study of 35 men who had no clinical evidence of coronary heart disease. Twenty exhibited severe type A behavior and 15 exhibited type B behavior. All subjects were given an Electron Beam Computed Tomography scan of their coronary arteries and a treadmill electrocardiogram.
Results:
Eight of the 20 (40%) type A subjects were found to have coronary calcification compared to none of the type B subjects (P=0.005). The correlation coefficient between type A score and coronary calcium score was 0.39 (P=0.09).
Conclusions:
The pathophysiology by which type A behavior increases the risk for coronary heart disease may involve the premature development of coronary atherosclerosis.