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On the value of doing nothing: anger and cardiovascular disease in clinical practice

Julie K Schulman1, Shannon Stromberg

  • 1University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, USA. jksmd@mac.com

Cardiology in Review
|April 18, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Current measurements of Type A behavior, anger, and hostility lack clinical evidence linking them to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Existing data do not support a meaningful relationship between these psychosocial traits and CVD development.

Area of Science:

  • Psychosocial factors and cardiovascular health

Background:

  • Type A behavior, anger, and hostility are considered potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • Previous research on these psychosocial traits and CVD has yielded inconsistent results.
  • Variability in measurement methods and outcome endpoints complicates interpretation of existing studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review existing quantitative and qualitative studies on the relationship between Type A behavior, anger, hostility, and CVD.
  • To assess the clinical significance of current measurements of these psychosocial traits in relation to CVD development.

Main Methods:

  • Conducted a comprehensive review of quantitative (meta-analytic) and qualitative systematic reviews.
  • Utilized Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) criteria for study selection and evaluation.

Main Results:

  • The reviewed studies exhibit significant heterogeneity in methodologies and outcome measures.
  • Analysis of existing data did not reveal a consistent or clinically meaningful association.
  • Disparate results were observed across the evaluated studies.

Conclusions:

  • The current evidence does not support a significant clinical relationship between commonly measured psychosocial traits (Type A behavior, anger, hostility) and the development of cardiovascular disease.
  • Further research with standardized methodologies may be warranted, but current data are insufficient.

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