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Prevalence of Type A behavior in untreated hypertensive individuals
J Irvine1, D M Garner, H M Craig
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Type A behavior, characterized by hostility, is more common in untreated hypertensive individuals. This finding supports its link to increased coronary heart disease risk.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Medicine
- Cardiovascular Health
- Psychophysiology
Background:
- Type A behavior is linked to coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors like high cholesterol and smoking.
- Previous associations between Type A behavior and hypertension are inconsistent, possibly due to methodological limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of Type A behavior in untreated hypertensive individuals compared to normotensive controls.
- To clarify the relationship between Type A behavior and hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Compared Type A behavior (Rosenman's structured interview) in 109 untreated hypertensive subjects and 109 matched normotensive controls.
- Hypertension was confirmed through five repeated assessments over five months.
Main Results:
- Type A behavior was significantly more prevalent in untreated, mildly hypertensive employed individuals than in matched normotensive subjects.
- Hostility and vigorous voice stylistics emerged as key Type A components predicting cardiovascular conditions.
Conclusions:
- Type A behavior is more prevalent in untreated hypertension.
- Findings reinforce the association of Type A behavior with increased coronary heart disease risk, alongside known links to high cholesterol and smoking.
Abstract:
Type A behavior has been associated with coronary heart disease as well as high cholesterol and smoking, major risk factors for coronary heart disease, but the data indicating a similar association with hypertension are inconsistent. Since past studies have usually based hypertension on a single blood pressure assessment or have often included treated hypertensive patients, this inconsistency is not surprising. The current study compared the prevalence of Type A behavior (assessed by Rosenman's structured interview) between 109 untreated hypertensive subjects and 109 age-, sex-, ethnic-, and occupation-matched normotensive subjects. Hypertension status was based on five repeated assessments over a 5-month period. Results indicated that Type A behavior is more prevalent in untreated, mildly hypertensive employed individuals than occupationally matched normotensive subjects. Type A component analysis confirmed the importance of hostility and certain vigorous voice stylistics in predicting cardiovascular conditions. These findings, taken together with the evidence linking Type A behavior with high cholesterol and cigarette smoking, further support the view that this behavior pattern is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease.