title: Association of type D personality with unhealthy lifestyle, and estimated risk of coronary events in the general Icelandic population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Type D personality is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality risk in cardiovascular disease patients, but the mechanisms explaining this risk are unclear. We examined whether Type D was associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors, estimated risk of developing CAD, and previous cardiac events.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study in the general Icelandic population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 4753 individuals (mean age 49.1 ± 12.0 years; 49% men) from the REFINE-Reykjavik study completed assessments for Type D personality and conventional CAD risk factors. Ten-year risk of developing CAD was estimated with the Icelandic risk calculator.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Type D personality (22% of sample) was associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension (35 vs. 31%, p = 0.009), but less use of hypertension medication (58 vs. 65%, p = 0.013) in hypertensives, more diabetes (6 vs. 4%, p = 0.023), wider waist circumference (p = 0.007), and elevated body mass index (p = 0.025) and blood lipids (p < 0.05). Type D individuals reported less physical exercise (p = 0.000) and more current (26 vs. 21%, p = 0.003) and former smoking (48 vs. 44%, p = 0.036). Estimates of 10-year risk of CAD were higher in Type D individuals (12.4%, 95% CI 1.9 to 23.8%), and Type Ds reported more previous cardiac events than non-Type Ds (5 vs. 3%, p < 0.01; OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.42).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the general Icelandic population, Type D personality was associated with differences in lifestyle-related CAD risk factors, a higher estimated risk of developing CAD, and higher incidence of previous cardiac events. Unhealthy lifestyles may partly explain the adverse cardiovascular effect of Type D personality.
authors.affiliation: CoRPS Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic diseases, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Erla
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Svansdottir
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Denollet
authors.forename: Bolli
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Thorsson
authors.forename: Thorarinn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gudnason
authors.forename: Sigrun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Halldorsdottir
authors.forename: Vilmundur
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gudnason
authors.forename: Krista C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: van den Broek
authors.forename: Hrobjartur D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Karlsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008019:Life Style; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010551:Personality; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents