Type A behavior is associated with an increased risk of left ventricular hypertrophy in male patients with essential hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether type A behavior, which is associated with a risk of coronary heart disease, affects left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with essential hypertension.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of 88 untreated patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension (33 men, mean +/- SEM age 54 +/- 1 years).


METHODS
We measured the type A behavior score using a standardized questionnaire, left ventricular mass index using M-mode echocardiography and 24 h mean ambulatory blood pressure (recorded every 30 min). Beat-to-beat blood pressure was also measured using a Finapres device in patients at rest and during mental stress (counting backward) to determine the blood pressure response to stress.


RESULTS
The left ventricular mass index was correlated with the type A behavior score (r = 0.214, P < 0.05), age (r = 0.266, P < 0.05), 24 h mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures (r = 0.391, P < 0.001, and r = 0.382, P < 0.001, respectively), systolic blood pressure both at rest and during stress (r = 0.255, P < 0.05, and r = 0.215, P < 0.05, respectively), and the variability of both systolic and diastolic blood pressures at rest (r = 0.253, P < 0.05, and r = 0.321, P < 0.01, respectively). Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that age was associated with an increase in the left ventricular mass index for both sexes (P = 0.004 for males, P = 0.003 for females). The type A behavior score predicted a greater increase in left ventricular mass index in men (P = 0.018) but not in women. The 24 h mean systolic blood pressure was associated with a greater increase in left ventricular mass index in women (P < 0.001) but not in men.


CONCLUSIONS
Type A behavior is an independent risk factor for left ventricular hypertrophy in male patients with essential hypertension.
Munakata
M
M
Division of Hypertension and Cardiology, Tohoku Rosai Hospital, Sendai, Japan.
Hiraizumi
T
T
Nunokawa
T
T
Ito
N
N
Taguchi
F
F
Yamauchi
Y
Y
Yoshinaga
K
K
D001794:Blood Pressure; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014434:Type A Personality