title: Trait anger and arterial stiffness: results from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.
abstract: The cross-sectional association between trait anger and stiffness of the left common carotid artery was examined in 10,285 black or white men or women, 48-67 years of age, from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study cohort. Trait anger was assessed using the 10-item Spielberger Trait Anger Scale. Arterial stiffness was assessed by pulsatile arterial diameter change (PADC) derived from echo-tracking ultrasound methods; the smaller the PADC, the stiffer the common carotid artery. In men, trait anger was significantly associated with PADC, independent of the established cardiovascular disease risk factors (p=0.04). PADC decreased from the first (lowest anger group) to the second quintile of anger, but there was no progressive decrease thereafter. Also observed was a 13-microm (95% confidence interval [CI], 1-25) difference in the magnitude of PADC from the lowest to the uppermost quintile of anger (PADC [standard error], 421 [4] microm vs. 408 [5] microm). In women, the association was marginally significant (p=0.07). The low-high difference in the magnitude of PADC (PADC [standard error], 397 [3] microm vs. 406 [4] microm) was inverse (-9 microm 95% CI, -19 to 2). Conclusions indicate that very high trait anger is associated with arterial stiffness in men.
authors.affiliation: Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. jwill22@bellsouth.net
authors.forename: Janice E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Din-Dzietham
authors.forename: Moyses
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szklo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000786:Anger; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology