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[The hostility complex and myocardial infarct]
F Gloria1, E Meaney, J M Rivera
1Unidad Cardiovascular, Hospital Regional Primero de Octubre I.S.S.S.T.E., Lindavista, México, D.F.
Insights
The hostility complex, a component of Type A personality, is more prevalent in men who have experienced myocardial infarction. This behavioral trait is linked to increased risk of coronary atherosclerosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Psychology
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- The hostility complex, characterized by aggression and impatience, is linked to coronary atherosclerosis.
- Type A personality traits are increasingly recognized for their impact on cardiovascular health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare hostility levels in men post-myocardial infarction versus healthy controls.
- To investigate the association between hostility and cardiovascular risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Compared 50 post-myocardial infarction men with 50 age-matched healthy male subjects.
- Measured blood pressure, total cholesterol, and quantified hostility using standardized questionnaires.
- Utilized sphygmomanometric measurements and the Cook and Medley questionnaire for hostility assessment.
Main Results:
- Post-myocardial infarction patients exhibited significantly higher diastolic blood pressure (82 vs 77 mmHg) and total cholesterol (231 vs 197 mg/dL).
- Hostility scores were significantly elevated in the post-myocardial infarction group (16 vs 13).
- Hostility scores correlated with myocardial infarction occurrence (p < 0.02).
Conclusions:
- Post-myocardial infarction patients demonstrate higher levels of hostility compared to control subjects.
- The hostility complex is a common trait among patients with coronary atherosclerosis.
- Further research is needed to clarify the direct relationship between hostility, blood pressure, cholesterol, and coronary events.
Abstract:
Several studies have associated the hostility complex (part of type A personality) to the development of coronary atherosclerosis. The complex is composed by aggressive behavior, frequent rage outbursts, intolerance to waiting lines and sense of urgency. To investigate the occurrence of this behavioral trait, 50 post-myocardial infarction men were compared against 50 normal male subjects of the same age. In all of them sphygmomanometric blood pressure was obtained, total blood cholesterol was measured and hostility was quantified by means of the Cook and Medley's questionnaire and an arbitrary ad hoc scale. Diastolic blood pressure was significatively higher in post-infarction patients (82 +/- 10 vs 77 +/- 9, p < 0.001), as well as the cholesterol level (231 +/- 55 vs 197 +/- 43, p < 0.001). Also, hostility score was higher in the post-infarcted men (16 +/- 4 vs 13 +/- 5, p < 0.001). The hostility score showed correlation with the occurrence of myocardial infarction (p < 0.02). These results establish that post-myocardial infarction patients express more hostility than control subjects. It was not possible to establish the true nature of the relationship among hostility and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol and the occurrence of coronary events. Nevertheless, this study confirms that the hostility complex is frequently present in atherosclerotic patients.