Explaining heterogeneity in the predictive value of Type D personality for cardiac events and mortality

The differential impact of Type D personality on the prognosis of patients with stable coronary artery disease

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the association between Type D personality and prognoses in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients by mode of endpoints, age, and methodological debates to explain substantial heterogeneity among Type D studies.

DESIGN

The prospective study was designed to recruit 590 stable CAD patients in Taiwan. Main outcome measures: Demographic and clinical characteristics, and the 14-item Type D scale-Taiwanese version were recorded at discharge.

RESULTS

Hierarchical logistic regression analyses showed, regardless of the methodological debates, Type D personality was significantly associated with MACEs though not non-cardiac outcomes in stable CAD patients after adjusting for possible confounders. Furthermore, Type D personality was especially associated with MACEs in stable CAD patients with younger age (<65 y), rather than older age (≥65 y). Subgroup analysis also showed the adverse effect of Type D personality on MACEs was larger among males, those living in the rural region, those with PTCA or stent, those with heart failure, hypertension, diabetes, and those who were smokers.

CONCLUSIONS

Regardless of whether the methodological debate is dichotomous or continuous, Type D personality was significantly associated with MACEs in stable CAD patients, some of whom had younger age, were males, smokers, or had comorbidities.

Association of type-D personality and left-ventricular remodelling in patients treated with primary percutaneous intervention after ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Type-D personality is an established predisposing factor for various diseases. Type-D traits have been shown to pose a 26% increased risk of coronary artery disease after controlling for other confounding factors. Significant associations have been reported between type-D personality traits and dyslipidaemia, impaired endothelial function, coronary heart disease (CAD), acute myocardial infarction, and other adverse cardiovascular events.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association between type-D personality and left-ventricular adverse remodelling in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention following index ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

METHODS

All patients hospitalized and treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) after their index ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) between 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023 were prospectively enrolled. Type-D personality traits in the study population were determined at baseline using type-D Scale-14 (DS14) instrument, whereas any positive change in left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV) ≥ 20% at follow up period of 12-months from baseline was defined as left-ventricular adverse remodelling (LVAR). Univariate and multivariate analysis was done to establish the independent predictors of LVAR. The area under receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was employed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the identified independent predictors.

RESULTS

A total of 124 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the study population was 67 ± 10 years and the overall incidence of LVAR was found to be 25%. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that type-D personality is a significant independent predictor of LVAR [Formula: see text] apart from the already established independent predictors Killip Class[Formula: see text], baseline Global Longitudinal strain (GLS)[Formula: see text], and 3-vessel CAD[Formula: see text]. In ROC curve analysis type-D personality as an independent predictor of LVAR achieved a sensitivity of 41.4% and a specificity of 87.1%, p < 0.02.

CONCLUSION

Type-D personality trait is a significant independent predictor of LVAR in patients treated with PCI after their index-STEMI.

Predictive value of type D personality for cardiac events in Chinese patients with acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Our study aimed to investigate the association between type D personality and adverse cardiac events in chinese patients after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

METHODS

Patients with AMI admitted to cardiac care unit (CCU) of China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China between January 2016 and December 2017 were enrolled. 257 patients completed psychological questionnaires at enrollment. Type D personality was assessed with 14-item Type D Scale-14 (DS14). Anxiety and depression were quantified using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), while cox regression analysis was used to evaluate post-discharge endpoints.

RESULTS

54 patients (21%) were classified as Type D personality defined by the combination of a negative affectivity (NA) score ≥ 10 and a social inhibition (SI) score ≥ 10 on the DS14. Patients with Type D personality displayed significantly higher scores of anxiety (7.4 ± 3.1 vs. 4.2 ± 3.1, p < .001) and depression (7.2 ± 3.8 vs. 4.0 ± 3.4, p < .001). AMI patients with Type D personality had higher prevalence rates of anxiety (χ2 = 30.095, P < .001) and depression (χ2 = 27.082, P < .001). Type D group also displayed a significantly higher level of blood lipoprotein(a) (177.2 ± 200.7 vs. 118.1 ± 255.7 mg/L, P = .048). The incidence of in-hospital MACEs was higher in type D than in non-Type D patients (24.1% vs. 11.3%, χ2 = 5.751, P = .026). Multivariable logistic regression showed three significant independent predictors of in-hospital MACEs: age [odds ratio(OR) = 1.055; 95%CI 1.016-1.095, p = .004], type-D personality(OR 3.332; 95% CI 1.149-9.661, p = .014) and killip classification(OR 2.275, 95% CI 1.506-3.437, p < .001). The average follow-up time was 31 (23-37.5) months. Type D patients had higher incidences of post-discharge events(23.1% vs. 11.5%, p = .032). In the analysis of post-discharge events by Cox regression, χ2 of the Cox regression equation was 16.795 (P = .032). Smoking (HR 2.602; 95% CI1.266-5.347, p = .009) and type-D personality (HR 2.265; 95%CI 1.028-4.988, p = .042) were independent predictors of long-term cardiac events. Kaplan-Meier curves showed significant difference in event-free survival between type D and non-type D group (p = .043).

CONCLUSIONS

Type D personality is an independent predictor of in-hospital and post-discharge cardiac events after AMI in Chinese patients.

Pathogenetic Mechanisms Underlying Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Personality Type D Patients after Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: The Roles of Cognitive Appraisal and Coping Strategies

BACKGROUND

This paper aimed to study the association of type D personality, coping strategies, and cognitive appraisal with annual prognosis after a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODS

The prospective study included 111 CAD patients who underwent a PCI. All participants, before the PCI, completed questionnaires designed to collect information about type D personality, cognitive appraisal, and coping styles. Information was also collected on the clinical and demographic characteristics of the patients. After 1 year of follow-up, the presence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) was assessed.

RESULTS

The presence of a MACE was noted in 38 patients, and the absence of a MACE was noted in 53 patients. In patients with type D personality, higher incidences of MACEs (54.1% versus 33.3%; p = 0.0489) and hospitalization rates (29.7% versus 7.4%; p = 0.004) were revealed. Patients with poor prognoses preferred a moderate use of the confrontation strategy than patients without a MACE (78.4% vs. 50.9%; p = 0.0082). Patients with MACEs had statistically significantly lower indicators of strong emotions (11.92 ± 5.32 versus 14.62 ± 4.83 points; p = 0.005) and future prospects (11.36 ± 3.81 versus 13.21 ± 3.41 points; p = 0.015) than patients without a MACE. In a multiple binary logistic regression model, the following factors had significant associations with MACE development: type D, moderate use of confrontation coping, moderate use of self-control coping, and strong emotions in cognitive appraisal.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that not only personality type D, but also certain coping strategies and cognitive appraisals increase the likelihood of developing a MACE after a PCI. This provides a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanism underlying type D personality and MACEs in patients after a PCI.

Risk of recurrent cardiovascular events in coronary artery disease patients with Type D personality

Introduction

Data on the association between Type D personality, its traits negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI), and risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in coronary outpatients is sparse. Furthermore, the associations between Type D subgroups and cardiovascular risk factors are largely unknown.

Methods

We investigated i) Type D personality, NA and SI and risk of recurrent MACE, and ii) the relationship between Type D subgroups and risk factors in a coronary population. This prospective cohort study included 1083 patients` median 16 months after a myocardial infarction and/or a revascularization procedure who were followed-up for 4.2 (SD 0.4) years. Type D personality was assessed by DS14. Anxiety and depression, statin adherence, and risk factors were assessed by patients' self-report and a clinical examination with blood samples. MACE, defined as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, revascularization, stroke or heart failure, were obtained from hospital records from index event to end of study lasting 5.7 years. Data were analyzed by Cox proportional hazard regression.

Results

In all, 352 MACE occurred in 230 patients after average 4.2 years follow-up. Higher NA score was associated with MACE after adjustment for age, risk factors and comorbidity (HR 1.02 per unit increase, 95% CI 1.00-1.05), whereas we found a weaker, not statistically significant estimated effect of higher SI score. After additional adjustment for symptoms of anxiety and depression, we found a weaker, not statistically significant association between NA and MACE (HR 1.01 per unit increase, 95% CI 0.98-1.05). Low statin adherence and smoking were more prevalent in the Type D and high NA group.

Discussion

Our results indicate that the NA trait is related to worse prognosis in outpatients with coronary artery disease.

Type D Personality as a Risk Factor for Adverse Outcome in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: An Individual Patient-Data Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Type D personality, a joint tendency toward negative affectivity and social inhibition, has been linked to adverse events in patients with heart disease, although with inconsistent findings. Here, we apply an individual patient-data meta-analysis to data from 19 prospective cohort studies ( N = 11,151) to investigate the prediction of adverse outcomes by type D personality in patients with acquired cardiovascular disease.

METHOD

For each outcome (all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting, percutaneous coronary intervention, major adverse cardiac event, any adverse event), we estimated type D's prognostic influence and the moderation by age, sex, and disease type.

RESULTS

In patients with cardiovascular disease, evidence for a type D effect in terms of the Bayes factor (BF) was strong for major adverse cardiac event (BF = 42.5; odds ratio [OR] = 1.14) and any adverse event (BF = 129.4; OR = 1.15). Evidence for the null hypothesis was found for all-cause mortality (BF = 45.9; OR = 1.03), cardiac mortality (BF = 23.7; OR = 0.99), and myocardial infarction (BF = 16.9; OR = 1.12), suggesting that type D had no effect on these outcomes. This evidence was similar in the subset of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), but inconclusive for patients with heart failure (HF). Positive effects were found for negative affectivity on cardiac and all-cause mortality, with the latter being more pronounced in male than female patients.

CONCLUSION

Across 19 prospective cohort studies, type D predicts adverse events in patients with CAD, whereas evidence in patients with HF was inconclusive. In both patients with CAD and HF, we found evidence for a null effect of type D on cardiac and all-cause mortality.

Coping Strategies In Young Healthy Individuals With Type D Personality

Objective — To study the choice of coping strategies and coping intensity in healthy individuals with type D personality. Material and methods — The study included 98 students of Kemerovo State Medical University (KemSMU), 68 women and 30 men (their mean age was 19.1±2.0 years). All subjects filled out psychological questionnaires to identify type D personality (DS-14) and the choice of coping strategies (Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ) and Coping Strategy Indicator (CSI)). Results — The participants were divided into a group with type D personality (n=44) and without it (n=54). Individuals with type D personality had higher scores on the Escape-Avoidance (p<0.001), Accepting Responsibility (p=0.009) and Distancing (p=0.05) scales of the WSQ questionnaire, and Avoidance strategy scale of the CSI questionnaire (p=0.007). Students with type D personality were characterized by a pronounced preference for the Escape-Avoidance strategy (p=0.000018). An increase of 1 point in the values on the Escape-Avoidance scale improved the chance of identifying type D personality by 1.15 times (p<0.001). An increase in scores on the Positive Reappraisal scale reduced the likelihood of identifying type D personality (OR 0.98; p=0.005). The Escape-Avoidance coping strategy was rather strongly associated with type D personality (AUC=0.779). Conclusion — In healthy young people with type D personality, inadequate coping strategies were notably prevalent: the Escape-Avoidance strategy identified by WCQ, and the Avoidance strategy marked by the CSI. The Escape-Avoidance strategy was independently associated with type D personality, and the Positive Reappraisal strategy was associated with the non-D type.

Distressed (Type D) personality is predicted by avoidance: evidence from a computer-based avatar task

Background

One personality type associated with poor health outcomes is distressed (Type D) personality which involves high levels of both social inhibition (SI) and negative affectivity (NA). Type D is also linked to psychopathologies such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, and depression. One mechanism through which personality temperament may result in these psychopathologies is avoidance. Recently, a computer-based measure designed to assess avoidant behaviors, in which the participant guides the behavior of an avatar interacting with strangers in social situations, has been found to be related to various forms of avoidance. In the current study, we extended this work with the avatar avoidance task to determine its relationship to distressed (Type D) personality. We hypothesized that Type D personality, along with SI, but not NA, would be positively related to avatar avoidance scores. We also hypothesized that avatar avoidance scores would be higher in Type D individuals than non-Type D individuals.

Methods

A total of 302 undergraduates completed the Distressed Type D Personality Scale (DS-14), and a computer-based avatar avoidance task.

Results

Type D and SI, and NA to a lesser degree, were positively correlated with avoidance scores on the avatar task. Furthermore, regression analyses revealed that Type D and SI scores were best predicted by a model including avoidance scores and education level while NA scores were best predicted by a model including avoidance scores. Standard cut-off scores on the DS-14 scale resulted in four groups (i.e., low SI and NA, high SI, high NA, and Type D) which significantly differed in avoidance scores. Specifically, Type D individuals had higher avoidance scores than the other three groups. Taken together these findings support a role for avoidance in Type D personality. The computer-based avatar avoidance task may be particularly relevant as an ecologically valid measure to identify avoidance in a virtual setting for use with individuals expressing Type D personality who may be unwilling or unable to accurately self-report or describe their own avoidant tendencies.

The relationship between Type D personality with atherosclerotic plaque and cardiovascular events: The mediation effect of inflammation and kynurenine/tryptophan metabolism

Purpose

Cardiovascular events and coronary plaque vulnerability are linked to Type D personality. However, the fundamental mechanism has not been clarified. Our study determined to illustrate whether inflammatory status in plasma, in combination with kynurenine pathway activity in Type D individuals, is associated with plaque vulnerability and cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Materials and methods

The Type D personality of 177 CAD patients were evaluated. Plasma biomarkers of inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6, and hs-CRP) were measured and pooled into standardized sumscores. Tryptophan and kynurenine metabolites were measured, and the kynurenine/tryptophan ratio (KTR) was calculated. Plaque vulnerability was measured in vivo by optical coherence tomography. All patients had a follow up of 2 years in which cardiovascular adverse events were recorded.

Results

Type D individuals exhibited elevated TNF-α (p = 0.007), IL-6 (p = 0.049), inflammation sumscores (p = 0.002), kynurenine (p = 0.008), and KTR (p = 0.005) than non-Type D group. The serial-multiple mediation showed that the Type D personality with a direct, favorable impact on plaque vulnerability, including thin cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) (point estimate = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.09–1.53), macrophages (point estimate = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.05–1.51), and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (point estimate = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.08–1.70). In addition, the standardized inflammation sumscores and KTR were mediators of the Type D personality associations with TCFA, macrophages and MACE.

Conclusion

These results demonstrated that the connection between Type D personality and poor cardiovascular outcomes in CAD patients can be mediated by pro-inflammatory biomarkers and KTR.

Relationships among Symptoms, Disability, Type D Personality, and Quality of Life in Patients with Migraine: A Cross-Sectional Study in South Korea

BACKGROUND

Type D personality as a personality vulnerable to stress consists of negative affectivity and social inhibition, and it is related to symptoms and decreased quality of life in patients with chronic illness.

AIM

This study aimed to explore the relationships among migraine symptoms, disability, type D personality, and quality of life in patients with migraine.

METHODS

A convenience sample of 135 patients with migraine was collected at the neurologic outpatient clinics of two tertiary hospitals in South Korea. Frequency and severity of migraine symptoms, Migraine Disability Assessment, type D personality, and quality of life were investigated using a structured questionnaire. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used.

RESULTS

Sixty-one (45.2%) were classified as type D personality. The intensity of the most severe migraine and Migraine Disability Assessment scores in subjects with type D personality were significantly higher than those in subjects without type D personality. In addition, the quality of life score of subjects with type D personality was significantly lower than in subjects without type D personality. The intensity of the migraine, Migraine Disability Assessment score, and type D personality were significant factors influencing quality of life on stepwise multiple regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Type D personality was related to migraine symptoms, disability, and quality of life in patients with migraine.

Facial Emotion Expression and the Inducibility of Myocardial Ischemia During Cardiac Stress Testing: The Role of Psychological Background Factors

OBJECTIVE

Negative emotional states, such as anger and anxiety, are associated with the onset of myocardial infarction and other acute clinical manifestations of ischemic heart disease. The likelihood of experiencing these short-term negative emotions has been associated with long-term psychological background factors such as depression, generalized anxiety, and personality factors. We examined the association of acute emotional states preceding cardiac stress testing (CST) with inducibility of myocardial ischemia and to what extent psychological background factors account for this association.

METHODS

Emotional states were assessed in patients undergoing CST (n = 210; mean [standard deviation] age = 66.9 [8.2] years); 91 (43%) women) using self-report measures and video recordings of facial emotion expression. Video recordings were analyzed for expressed anxiety, anger, sadness, and happiness before CST. Psychological background factors were assessed with validated questionnaires. Single-photon emission computed tomography was used to evaluate inducibility of ischemia.

RESULTS

Ischemia occurred in 72 patients (34%). Emotional states were not associated with subsequent inducibility of ischemia during CST (odds ratio between 0.93 and 1.04; p values > .50). Psychological background factors were also not associated with ischemia (odds ratio between 0.96 and 1.06 per scale unit; p values > .20) and did not account for the associations of emotional states with ischemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Emotional states immediately before CST and psychological background factors were not associated with the inducibility of ischemia. These findings indicate that the well-documented association between negative emotions with acute clinical manifestations of ischemic heart disease requires a different explanation than a reduced threshold for inducible ischemia.

Evaluation of Coping Strategies among Students with Type D Personality

Objective: Personality type D may be associated with a predisposition to develop stress under external adverse influences, for example, in the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, type D personality is associated with higher burnout levels; thus, it may contribute to the development of diseases symptoms. The current study was designed to examine the coping strategies in young healthy persons with personality type D. Methods: The study included 98 medical students, with 30 being males. The participants completed questionnaires to identify personality type D (DS-14) and the coping strategies. Depending on the results of the DS-14 questionnaire, four subgroups were distinguished with different levels of points on the NA and SI subscales. Results: For persons with type D personality, the escape–avoidance strategy was used more often, the accepting responsibility and self-controlling strategies were less common compared with non-type-D individuals. When type D was adjusted for the NA and SI subscales, the correlation remained only with escape–avoidance strategy. We did not find a synergistic effect of the NA and SI subscales in regard to coping. Conclusions: This study demonstrated a link between personality type D and maladaptive coping strategies. The predominance of the maladaptive coping strategy in type D is a possible point of application for psychosocial training in such individuals that requires further research.

Type D Personality Is an Independent Predictor of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Young Men

This cross-sectional study, which included men aged 20-40 years, aimed to determine the relationships among type D personality, depressive symptoms and lower urinary tract symptoms in young men. An internet-based questionnaire was administered, and General demographics, International Prostate Symptom Scores, Type D Scale-14 scores, and Depression and Somatic Symptom Scale scores were analyzed. A total of 3,127 men were included; of these, 762 (24.4%) reported moderate/severe lower urinary tract symptoms, and 1,565 (50.05%) met the criteria for type D personality. Men with type D personality had significantly higher body mass index and total and sub-scores for the International Prostate Symptom Score and Depression and Somatic Symptom Scale. Furthermore, the type D personality group had a higher prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms, particularly voiding symptoms. Univariate analysis revealed that all parameters, except for body mass index, were significant predictors of moderate/severe lower urinary tract symptoms. Multivariate analysis showed that age >30 years, type D personality, and depressive and somatic Depression and Somatic Symptom Scale sub-scores were independent predictors of moderate/severe lower urinary tract symptoms. Regarding Type D Scale-14 subscales, social inhibition, rather than negative affectivity, impacted moderate/severe lower urinary tract symptoms. Mediation analysis revealed that depressive symptoms mediated the relationship between type D personality and lower urinary tract symptoms. This study established correlations between type D personality, depressive symptoms, and lower urinary tract symptoms. As previous studies suggested that patients with type D personality are less likely to consult and adhere to treatment, and are at higher risk for depression, urologists should therefore actively recognize patients with TDP.

Predictive value of baseline cognitive functioning on health-related quality of life in individuals with coronary artery disease: a 5-year longitudinal study

AIMS

Emerging studies suggest an association exists between coronary artery disease (CAD) and the development of neurodegenerative diseases, with CAD acting as a precursor. Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between baseline measures of cognitive functioning and long-term health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in individuals with CAD with specification to Type D personality traits and sex.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This prospective observational cohort study consisted of 864 participants (mean age 58 SD = 9 years, 74.0% men) with CAD after acute coronary syndrome. Baseline characteristics included comprehensive cognitive testing, measures of sociodemographic and clinical factors, and psychological assessment scales, such as Type D personality scale and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire assessed participants' HRQoL, conducted through phone interviews at baseline, every 6 months for up to 2 years, and after 5 years. Cognitive functioning correlated with HRQoL at all time intervals over the 5-year follow-up. Regarding sex and Type D personality, significant differences emerged in associations between impaired cognitive functioning at baseline and HRQoL measured over the period of 5 years. Men participants with characteristics of Type D personality were especially vulnerable to impaired cognitive functioning affecting the 5-year quality of life.

CONCLUSION

Men with CAD who obtained scores indicating characteristics of Type D personality were significantly more likely to have lower baseline cognitive functions and long-term HRQoL outcomes. This information could inform healthcare practitioners to screen for personality characteristics and closely follow-up those at a greater risk.

Predictive Model for Quality of Life in Patients 1 Year After First Stroke

BACKGROUND

Because the recurrence rate of stroke increases 1 year after its initial occurrence, it is important to predict quality of life at this stage, although most functions are likely recovered.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to construct and verify a model of quality of life in patients 1 year post stroke by considering their characteristics at the time of the stroke based on the Wilson and Cleary model and previous literature.

METHODS

Participants comprised 288 patients who had experienced their first ischemic stroke and were enrolled in 3 regional stroke centers in South Korea. Data were analyzed using path analysis to identify a model of patients' quality of life 1 year post stroke.

RESULTS

Age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, the modified Rankin Scale score, and anxiety had a direct effect on quality of life, whereas type D personality and social support had an indirect effect. Type D personality, age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, social support, the modified Rankin Scale score, and anxiety explained 32.9% of the total variance in quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

When predicting quality of life in a patient 1 year after a stroke, it is important to consider variables such as type D personality, age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, social support, the modified Rankin Scale score, and anxiety at the time of the first stroke. Interventions to improve the quality of life of patients with stroke should consider these factors.

A systematic review comparing two popular methods to assess a Type D personality effect

INTRODUCTION

Type D personality, operationalized as high scores on negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI), has been associated with various medical and psychosocial outcomes. The recent failure to replicate several earlier findings could result from the various methods used to assess the Type D effect. Despite recommendations to analyze the continuous NA and SI scores, a popular approach groups people as having Type D personality or not. This method does not adequately detect a Type D effect as it is also sensitive to main effects of NA or SI only, suggesting the literature contains false positive Type D effects. Here, we systematically assess the extent of this problem.

METHOD

We conducted a systematic review including 44 published studies assessing a Type D effect with both a continuous and dichotomous operationalization.

RESULTS

The dichotomous method showed poor agreement with the continuous Type D effect. Of the 89 significant dichotomous method effects, 37 (41.6%) were Type D effects according to the continuous method. The remaining 52 (58.4%) are therefore likely not Type D effects based on the continuous method, as 42 (47.2%) were main effects of NA or SI only.

CONCLUSION

Half of the published Type D effect according to the dichotomous method may be false positives, with only NA or SI driving the outcome.

The Influence of Personality Type D on Cardiovascular Prognosis in Patients After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Data from a 5-Year-Follow-up Study

BACKGROUND

Type D personality is accompanied by a set of negative behavioral patterns: low physical activity, high levels of psychological distress, low adherence to treatment. However, studies regarding predictive value of the type D personality remain inconclusive: the results varied depending on the examined cohort, age, and ethnicity. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of type D personality on the 5-year prognosis in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in Russian population.

METHODS

The study included 602 patients with stable coronary artery disease (490 males, 57.7 ± 7.3 years) who had received CABG and were divided into two groups: patients with type D personality (n = 134) and patients without type D (n = 468). The risk of fatal and nonfatal events within 5 years after CABG was assessed.

RESULTS

There was no difference in total mortality in patients with type D and without type D (7.9% and 7.7%, respectively) over the 5-year period. The absence of cardiac events was detected much less frequently in patients with type D (28%) compared with patients without type D (82%; p = 0.021). Multivariate analysis found independent association between the unfavorable outcome and presence of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.021), type D personality (p = 0.039), and multifocal atherosclerosis (p = 0.033) regardless of gender, age, previous myocardial infarction, and stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

Type D patients had a greater risk for cardiac events over 5 years after CABG compared with non-type D patients. Obtained data indicates that it is reasonable to consider personality type while detecting patients at risk of development of stress induced cardiac complications after CABG.

Influence of Type D Personality on Health Promoting Behaviours and Quality of Life in Stroke Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in South Korea

OBJECTIVES

Type D personality is vulnerable to stress and is associated with high symptom severity, unhealthy behaviors, and low quality of life (QoL) in patients with chronic diseases. This study aimed to identify the influence of type D personality on health promoting behaviors and QoL in patients with ischemic stroke in South Korea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used. This study collected data from a convenience sample of 170 patients with ischemic stroke. Demographic and clinical characteristics, health promoting behaviors, and QoL were compared between the type D personality group and the non-type D group. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to identify factors influencing patients' QoL.

RESULTS

Of the 170 subjects, 39 (22.9%) were classified as having type D personality. Type D personality was associated with higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores at admission and discharge, higher modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores at 3 months after stroke, lower scores for health promoting behaviors, and lower QoL. Regression analysis showed that mRS score 3 months after stroke was the most significant factor influencing QoL, followed by health promoting behaviors, type D personality, speech deficits, and family income.

CONCLUSIONS

Type D personality should be considered together with health promoting behaviors and QoL in patients with ischemic stroke. Interventions considering type D personality may be helpful in improving health promoting behavior and QoL for the stroke patients.

Association between type D personality and in-stent restenosis in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention: A mediation analysis of dietary patterns

OBJECTIVE

Type D personality is a psychosocial risk factor for cardiovascular events and in-stent restenosis (ISR), but the mechanisms involved are not well understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary patterns on the association between Type D personality and ISR in patients with coronary artery disease treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study comprised a total of 230 post-PCI patients who were assessed for Type D personality, depression, dietary patterns, physical activity and medication adherence via self-administered questionnaires. ISR was assessed by coronary angiography.

RESULTS

Type D personality (odds ratio [OR], 3.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-10.71, p=0.042), low fruit intake (OR, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.12-0.68, p=0.008) and low vegetable intake (OR, 0.48, 95% CI, 0.27-0.91, p=0.021) were independent risk factors for ISR after adjustment for psychosocial, lifestyle and cardiovascular risk factors. Mediation analyses revealed that Type D personality had a significant direct effect on the development of ISR (p<0.05). In addition, nutrients in fruits and vegetables, including vitamin C, vitamin E and fiber, were important mediators of the relationship between Type D personality and ISR (p<0.05), the percentage of total indirect effect was 24.65%.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggested that the low intake of fruit and vegetables in Type D patients can predict ISR. The healthy dietary interventions to supply vitamin C, vitamin E and fiber may help to improve the prognosis in post-PCI patients with Type D personality.

The Impact of Psychological Functioning on Cardiovascular Disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We report on recent findings pertaining to the relationship of both negative and positive indicators of psychological functioning with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and briefly describe possible mechanistic pathways to account for these relationships.

RECENT FINDINGS

A body of observational literature suggests that (1) depression is predictive of CVD and is a consequence of CVD; (2) anxiety is related to CVD but the precise nature of this relationship remains unclear; and (3) negative affectivity and Type D personality are constructs that combine aspects of negative psychological functioning that have shown relationships with CVD and are worthy of future investigation. Positive psychological constructs of meaning/purpose and optimism predict better cardiovascular outcomes and other positive psychological constructs have received promising, but limited, attention in the literature. Key remaining questions concern the magnitude and directionality of possible causal relationships as well as the mechanisms accounting for them.

The association of type D personality and depression with infertility in women

Purpose: Type D personality-defined as the presence of two personality characters, namely negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI)-is associated with various disorders. The 14-item Type D Scale (DS14), which consists of NA and SI subscales, can be used for the detection of the presence of Type D personality. The aim of our study was to investigate the association of Type D personality and depression with infertility in women.Method: A total of 324 women, 168 primary unexplained infertile women (92 patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment and 76 undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment) and 156 fertile controls were recruited. The 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-21) and DS14 were completed by all participants. The study was approved by Local Ethics Committee with the protocol number 72867572-050-218.Results: Depression and Type D personality were found to be significantly more prevalent in the infertile group than the fertile group. Type D was positively associated with infertility (OR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.45-3.78, p < .0001), especially in the younger-aged (<35 years) population (OR = 2.59, 95% CI = 1.48-4.5, p = .001). After adjusting for the duration of marriage, age, obesity, educational level, and the same characteristics of the partner, the association between Type D personality and infertility persisted (OR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.52-4.29, p < .001). The scores of the BDI-21 and NA subscale were found to be negatively correlated with age and partner's age. The BDI and SI scores, and the NA, SI, and Type D personality rates were similar between the IUI and the IVF groups; however, the NA score was higher, and depression was found to be more prevalent and severe in the IUI group than the IVF group.Conclusions: Type D personality could be positively associated with infertility, especially in younger-aged women.

Modeling synergy: How to assess a Type D personality effect

OBJECTIVE

In research on Type D personality, its subcomponents negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI) are hypothesized to have a synergistic effect on various medical and psychosocial outcomes. As some methods to analyze Type D personality have been criticized, this study investigated whether these methods adequately detect a Type D effect.

METHOD

We used a simulation and two empirical illustrations to investigate each method's performance (bias, power and false positives) in detecting the Type D effect.

RESULTS

Our simulation showed that the two most commonly used methods to assess the Type D effect (subgroup methods) were primarily picking up the presence of NA or SI main effects, indicating that these methods might falsely suggest synergistic Type D effects. Moreover, these methods failed to detect the combined presence of the NA and SI main effects, resulting in significant Type D effects when only one of the NA/SI main effects was present. The method that best detected Type D effects modeled the continuous NA/SI main effects and their statistical interaction in a regression analysis. Reanalysis of two empirical Type D personality datasets confirmed the patterns found in our simulation.

CONCLUSION

This study showed that Type D effects should be modeled with a continuous interaction approach. Other approaches showed either more bias, more false positive findings or lower power. We recommend against using subgroup approaches to operationalize Type D personality, as these methods are biased, regardless of whether the Type D effect is synergistic or additive in nature.

Personality traits, ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and mortality in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator: 6 years follow-up of the WEBCARE cohort

OBJECTIVE

Risk stratification within the ICD population warrants the examining of the role of protective- and risk factors. Current study examines the association between Type D personality, pessimism, and optimism and risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTa's) and mortality in patients with a first-time ICD 6 years post implantation.

METHODS

A total of 221 first-implant ICD patients completed questionnaires on optimism and pessimism (Life Orientation Test) and Type D personality (Type D scale DS14) 10 to 14 days after implantation. VTa's and all-cause mortality 6 years post implant comprised the study endpoints.

RESULTS

Ninety (40.7%) patients had experienced VTa's and 37 (16.7%) patients died, 12 (5.4%) due to a cardiac cause. Adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that pessimism was significantly associated with increased risk of VTa's (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.00-1.19; p = .05). Type D personality (OR = 1.05; 95% CI = 0.47-2.32; p = .91) and optimism (OR = 1.00; 95% CI = 0.90-1.12; p = .98) were not associated with VTa's. None of the personality types were associated with mortality.

CONCLUSION

Pessimism was associated with VTa's but not with mortality. No significant association with either of the endpoints was observed for Type D personality and optimism. Future research should focus on the coexistent psychosocial factors that possibly lead to adverse cardiac prognosis in this patient population.

A Review of Personality Type D on Cardiovascular Disease Patients

Introduction: The type of personality that a patient has as a psychosocial factor has been associated with the incidence and progression of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the study was to review the evidence and correlation between personality type and the development of cardiovascular disease.Methods: Articles were searched for using the PRISMA approach in the CINAHL, Science Direct and Scopus databases, limited to the last 5 years. The articles were from 2013 to 2018 and the language used was English. The studies focused on personality type D and cardiovascular disease, and the participants were above 18 years old.Results: Most of the findings of the studies showed that individuals with a type D personality have a relationship with more severe heart disease, which relates to several physiological factors, namely emotion increase, anxiety, stress, biological factors, cognitive decline and the decrease in quality of life.Conclusion: Individuals with type D personality have a higher level of stress, significant blood pressure, higher pulse and they experience an increase in cortisol compared to non-type D personalities. Individuals who suffer from cardiovascular disease with personality type D tend to experience a more severe progression of the condition of cardiovascular disease.

[Type D personality in patients with coronary heart disease underwent coronary stenting: a prospective study]

AIM

To evaluate the type D personality relation with clinical and instrumental parameters in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) underwent coronary stenting (CS) and to determine the influence of the personality type D on the prognosis in these patients within one year after CS. Material and methods. Into prospective study we included 977 patients (740 men and 237 women) aged 33 to 86 years (mean age 58.7±9.4) who underwent CS. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to estimate the relative risk (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of the end point. The end points included death from all causes, death from cardiovas- cular disease (CVD), myocardial infarction (fatal + non-fatal) (MI), non-fatal myocardial infarction (non-fatal MI), unstable angina (UA), and stroke. Results. Type D personality was found in 31.8% patients. These did not differ from the others in terms of age, gender, main cardiovascular risk factors. Patients of D-type had tendency to the increase of diabetes diagnosed - 25.1% vs 20.3% (p=0.09). At the same time D-type patients had more prevalent ≥2 myocardial infarction in anamnesis - 9.0% vs 4.5% (p=0,006) among those with post infarction cardiosclerosis. There was no difference between the groups according to echocardiography and the short-term outcomes of CS. During the prospective study period (12±1.8 months) 24 patients (2.4%) died from all causes, 21 patients (2.1%) died from CVD. MI developed in 47 patients (4.8%) of whom, 23 patients (2.4%) underwent non-fatal MI. In 50 patients (5.1%) ischemic heart disease in a prospective period complicated UA. In 8 patients (0.8%) developed a stroke. There was no effect of personality type D on the prognosis in patients with CHD who underwent CS for 1 year after surgery. Conclusion. Among CHD patients underwent CS, type D personality was found in 31.8%. There is no link for type D personality and severity of CHD clinically as well as the short-term and long-term outcomes of CS.

The dyadic effects of Type D personality on health in romantic couples

Objective: An individual's own personality traits are powerful predictors of their health outcomes (actor effects). However, the effect of personality on health may also occur at an interpersonal level, whereby the personalities of people close to the individual also affect his or her health outcomes (partner effects). Our objective was to examine the actor and partner effects of Type D personality on health in romantic couples for the first time.Design: Cross-sectional questionnaire-based study (N = 364), consisting of 182 romantic couples from the general population (mean age = 35.7 years).Main outcome measures: Each participant completed self-report measures of Type D personality (DS14), health behaviours (GPHB), mood (DASS-21) and quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF).Results: Data were analysed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). The APIM showed no actor or partner effects of the overall Type D construct. However, there were actor effects of negative affect for both males and females on depression and quality of life, a male actor effect of social inhibition on quality of life, and a female partner effect of social inhibition on depression.Conclusions: These findings suggest that there are both actor and partner effects of the Type D components on some health outcomes.

Modeling Interactions Between Latent Variables in Research on Type D Personality: A Monte Carlo Simulation and Clinical Study of Depression and Anxiety

Several approaches exist to model interactions between latent variables. However, it is unclear how these perform when item scores are skewed and ordinal. Research on Type D personality serves as a good case study for that matter. In Study 1, we fitted a multivariate interaction model to predict depression and anxiety with Type D personality, operationalized as an interaction between its two subcomponents negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI). We constructed this interaction according to four approaches: (1) sum score product; (2) single product indicator; (3) matched product indicators; and (4) latent moderated structural equations (LMS). In Study 2, we compared these interaction models in a simulation study by assessing for each method the bias and precision of the estimated interaction effect under varying conditions. In Study 1, all methods showed a significant Type D effect on both depression and anxiety, although this effect diminished after including the NA and SI quadratic effects. Study 2 showed that the LMS approach performed best with respect to minimizing bias and maximizing power, even when item scores were ordinal and skewed. However, when latent traits were skewed LMS resulted in more false-positive conclusions, while the Matched PI approach adequately controlled the false-positive rate.

Mortality in unipolar depression preceding and following chronic somatic diseases

OBJECTIVE

It is largely unknown how depression prior to and following somatic diseases affects mortality. Thus, we examined how the temporal order of depression and somatic diseases affects mortality risk.

METHOD

Data were from a Danish population-based cohort from 1995 to 2013, which included all residents in Denmark during the study period (N = 4 984 912). Nineteen severe chronic somatic disorders from the Charlson Comorbidity Index were assessed. The date of first diagnosis of depression and somatic diseases was identified. Multivariable Cox proportional Hazard models with time-varying covariates were constructed to assess the risk for all-cause and non-suicide deaths for individual somatic diseases.

RESULTS

For all somatic diseases, prior and/or subsequent depression conferred a significantly higher mortality risk. Prior depression was significantly associated with a higher mortality risk when compared to subsequent depression for 13 of the 19 somatic diseases assessed, with the largest difference observed for moderate/severe liver disease (HR = 2.08; 95% CI = 1.79-2.44), followed by metastatic solid tumor (HR = 1.48; 95% CI = 1.39-1.58), and myocardial infarction (HR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.34-1.49).

CONCLUSION

A particularly high mortality risk was observed in the presence of prior depression for most somatic diseases. Future studies that assess the underlying mechanisms are necessary to adequately address the excessive mortality associated with comorbid depression.

Coronary calcinosis and psychological distress association, by the data from ESSE-RF study in Kemerovskaya Region

Aim. To evaluate the association of coronary arteries calcinosis with personality type D, by ESSE-RF (Epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases and risk factors in various regions of Russian Federation) trial data in Kemerovskaya Oblast.

Material and methods. The study has been done under the framework of ESSE-RF trial. Standard protocol was updated with personality type assessment by DS-14 questionnaire. All patients underwent quantitative assessment of coronary calcinosis with multispiral computed tomography. The data package was analyzed with Agatstone method. Two groups of patients collected: group 1 (n=231) with type D personality, and group 2 with non-D (n=1379).

Results. With the evaluation of calcium index (CaI) there were significant differences in groups: 689,3+53,7 in type D patients and 546,5+47 with none (p=0,048). Moderate and severe CaI was higher in type D patients — 10,3% and 12,5% vs 5,8% and 2,9%, respectively (p=0,043 and p=0,011). Highest differences in CaI in the left coronary artery, exactly in the left anterior descending, were 189,1+12,5 in type D vs 155,6+16,7 in non-type D (p=0,011), and circumflex artery — 121,7+30,6 vs 63,8+21,7 (p=0,032). With the logistic regression, the most influencing on moderate and severe CaI were age — hazard ratio (HR) 1,07-2,14 (p=0,023), diabetes — HR 1,32; 95% CI 1,09-1,62 (p=0,032), type D personality — HR 1,42; 95% CI 1,12-1,82 (p=0,023), coronary heart disease — HR 1,12; 95% CI 1,01-1,21 (p=0,034). By the multifactorial analysis, as independent predictors of moderate and severe CI remained such parameters as coronary heart disease — HR 1,24 95% CI 1,01-1,53 (р=0,04), diabetes — HR 1,28; 95% CI 1,80-3,24 (р=0,02) and type D — HR 1,49; 95% CI 2,01-2,29 (р=0,01).

Conclusion. Screening for the influence of type D personality is worthy in persons with subclinical coronary arteries lesion to conduct on-time preventive events.

Role of personality in cardiovascular diseases: An issue that needs to be focused too!

This review provides a broad overview of the relationship of personality with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). There has been a sustained interest over the last half a century on the issue of relationship between personality traits and CVDs. Type A behavior was the initial focus of inquiry as it was observed that individuals who were competitive, hostile, and excessively driven were overrepresented among patients seeking treatment for CVDs and also were prone to develop coronary artery disease/syndrome. However, the research gradually expanded to assess the relationship of cardiac morbidity with various other personality facets. Furthermore, studies found out that negative effects (including anger and hostility) were also associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Subsequently, a new personality entity named as the type D ‘distressed’ personality, which combined negative affectivity and social inhibition. type D personality then became the area of research and was demonstrated to be related with poorer cardiac outcomes. Interestingly, the results of various research studies are not equivocal, and hence, there are several critiques related to the current understanding of the link between personality construct and the risk of development as well as the outcome of CVDs. Furthermore, few personality traits such as optimism, conscientiousness, openness to experience, and curiosity have been found to be protective factors against development of CVDs and therefore are called ‘cardioprotective’ personality traits. A detailed discussion on the various aspects of personality in relation to CVDs along with a critical appraisal has been presented in this review.

Type D Personality as a Risk Factor in Coronary Heart Disease: a Review of Current Evidence

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

This review article synthesizes recent research findings on the psychological context of Type D personality and the mechanisms through which Type D affects disease progression and prognosis among patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

RECENT FINDINGS

One in four patients with CHD has a Distressed (Type D) personality, which is characterized by two stable traits: social inhibition and negative affectivity. Type D personality predicts increased mortality and morbidity burden, and poorer health-related quality of life. Type D is part of a family of psychosocial risk factors that affect CHD prognosis. The pattern of co-occurrence of these psychosocial factors and intra-individual differences in psychosocial profiles may affect risk prediction accuracy. Multiple biological and behavioral processes have been associated with Type D personality. Identifying pathways explaining the observed associations between Type D personality and CHD is important to improve etiological and pathophysiological knowledge and to design personalized interventions, and targeting specific risk-associated pathways.

Type D personality and the degree of control of bronchial asthma

Introduction

Poor asthma control is probably associated with both biological and psychological factors. Type D pattern of behavior is characterized by negative emotionality and inhibition in social relationships. It was previously found to be associated with cardiovascular diseases.

Aim

To evaluate the correlation between the degree of asthma control and the severity of the components of type D behavior pattern.

Material and methods

The research was conducted on a group of 117 subjects with bronchial asthma. The control group consisted of 32 healthy subjects. The degree of bronchial asthma control was determined using the Asthma Control Test. The D pattern of behavior was measured using the DS-14 questionnaire.

Results

The risk of type D behavior pattern, defined as scoring at least 10 points in both scales (Negative Emotionality and Social Inhibition), was higher in subjects with uncontrolled asthma than in healthy individuals (OR = 5.19; 95% CI: 1.74–15.44), those with partial control of asthma (OR = 6.04; 95% CI: 1.87–19.52) and subjects with good control of asthma (OR = 8.46; 95% CI: 3.09–23.16). The severity of depressiveness correlated positively with the number of infections in the past year. Negative emotionality correlated positively with the number of infections and social inhibition.

Conclusions

Type D pattern of behavior may be associated with diagnosis and severity of asthma. Due to its link to poor control of asthma symptoms, a high level of negative emotionality among patients with asthma might be of particular interest to the clinicians.

Person-centered analysis of psychological traits to explain heterogeneity in patient-reported outcomes of coronary artery disease- the THORESCI study

BACKGROUND

Heterogeneity in the prognosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients may be explained by relatively stable individual psychological differences. Therefore, we studied multiple personality and coping traits using a person-centered approach, and examined the predictive value of this approach for patient-reported outcomes.

METHOD

657 CAD patients (age = 66.39 ± 10.6; 79% men) completed multiple self-report questionnaires focusing on demographics, negative affectivity and social inhibition (DS14), neuroticism and extraversion (EPQ), resilience (DRS-15), and coping styles (CISS) after undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Depressive symptoms (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and treatment adherence (MOS) were assessed at 6 months follow-up. Clinical information was extracted from patients' medical records.

RESULTS

A step-3 latent class analysis identified four subgroup profiles: Low distress (31%), Passive coping (21%), Active coping (20%), and High distress (28%). For all patient-reported outcomes, overall significant differences between the subgroups were observed (p-values < .05). The High distress profile was associated with the highest levels of emotional distress (d's > .94), and lowest levels of positive mood (d = -1.02) and treatment adherence (d = -2.75) at follow-up. Patients with an Active coping profile also experienced increased emotional distress (d's > .50), but participated in cardiac rehabilitation most often (d = .13), and reported high levels of positive mood (d = -1.02). Patients with a Passive coping profile displayed few emotional problems after six months (d's < .30), but participation to cardiac rehabilitation was relatively low (d = .04).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed four distinct psychological latent subgroups, which were predictive of patient-reported outcomes. The results indicate that a person-centered approach is useful in explaining heterogeneity in recovery from PCI, and may enhance personalized medicine in patients with CAD.

Latent profiles of early trauma & Type D personality: sex differences in cardiovascular risk markers

BACKGROUND

Both adverse early life-events and distressed personality are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. As there is an important link between these psychological factors, we investigated how these might cluster in sex-specific psychological profiles. We further examined the association of these profiles with cardiovascular risk markers.

METHOD

446 women (mean age = 49.8 ± 17.9 years) and 431 men (mean age = 49.4 ± 17.5 years) from the Dutch general population completed questionnaires on demographics, adverse early life-events (ETI), Type D personality (DS14), anxiety (GAD-7) and depressive (PHQ-9) symptoms, and traditional cardiovascular risk markers.

RESULTS

A step-3 latent profile analysis identified three profiles in women (Reference, Type D & trauma, and Type D/no trauma) and four in men (Reference, Type D & trauma, Type D/no trauma, and Physical abuse). In women, the Type D/no trauma was associated with highest levels of emotional symptoms (OR = 2.47; 95% CI: 2.11-2.89), lipid abnormalities (OR = 3.69; 95% CI: 1.47-9.27), and increased levels of alcohol use (OR = 3.63; 95% CI: 1.42-9.30). The Type D & trauma profile was associated with increased levels of emotional symptoms (OR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.70-2.42), highest levels of smoking (OR = 3.30; 95% CI: 1.21-8.97) and alcohol use (OR = 7.63; 95% CI: 2.86-20.33). Women in both profiles were older as compared to the Reference group (OR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.01-1.05). In men, the Type D & trauma profile was associated with increased levels of emotional symptoms (OR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.03-1.20). There were no significant differences between the profiles in lifestyle factors and cardiometabolic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

In women, the Type D/no trauma profile and the Type D & trauma profile were associated with a specific combination of cardiovascular risk markers. In men, the Type D & trauma profile was associated with an increased level of emotional symptoms.

Predictive value of Type D personality for impaired endothelial function in patients with coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

Type D personality (high negative affectivity and social inhibition) is associated with cardiovascular events and coronary plaque severity. Whether Type D is also related to functional vasomotion abnormalities is unknown. We examined concurrent and predictive associations of Type D with endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODS

At baseline, 180 CAD patients (90% men; M = 58.0 years) completed Type D (DS14) and depression scales, and entered a 12-week exercise program. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery and circulating CD34⁺/KDR⁺/CD45⁺_dim endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months. Logistic regression and linear mixed models were used to analyze endothelial function.

RESULTS

Type D personality was associated with decreased FMD across baseline, 3 months, and 12 months (mixed model analysis, p = 0.04), after adjustment for clinical characteristics, exercise training and depression. There was no significant association between Type D and decreased EPCs (p = 0.07). Age and smoking were other significant correlates of FMD and EPCs. Using a FMD <5.5% cut-off, Type D patients more often had endothelial dysfunction at baseline (24/37 = 65%) than non-Type Ds (63/143 = 44%); OR = 3.03, 95% CI 1.04-8.80. This significant Type D effect was confirmed in prospective analyses of endothelial dysfunction at 12 months (OR = 3.43, 95% CI 1.01-11.64), and in subgroup analyses of male patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Type D personality was associated with impaired endothelial function in men with CAD. This association was robust across time, independent from depressive symptoms, and supports the notion that Type D has an adverse effect on cardiovascular health in patients with CAD.

The predictive value of positive affect and Type D personality for adverse cardiovascular clinical outcomes in patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

Patients with non-obstructive coronary artery disease (NOCAD) continue to experience disabling symptoms. Positive affect (PA) has shown a cardioprotective potential. Type D personality has previously been shown to have a deleterious effect on adverse outcomes in diverse cardiac populations. Little is known about the predictive value of PA and Type D personality for long-term outcomes in NOCAD patients. The aim was to investigate the effect of PA and Type D personality on clinical outcomes.

METHODS

547 patients (mean age 61 years±9, 48% male) who underwent a coronary angiography or CT-scan between January 2009 and February 2013 answered questionnaires concerning PA (GMS) and Type D personality (DS14). Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed.

RESULTS

When analyzed dichotomously, PA was a significant predictor of need for repeat cardiac testing (HR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.41-0.99), but not emergency department (ED) admissions (HR=0.83, 95% CI: 0.52-1.32) after adjustment for age, sex, education, diagnosis by group, BMI and hypertension. Analyzed continuously, the predictive value of PA was non-significant for both repeat testing (HR=0.85, 95% CI: 0.69-1.06) and ED admissions (HR=0.98, 95% CI: 0.77-1.23). Type D personality, both continuously and dichotomously, was not significantly associated with the outcomes. Findings were also examined for men and women separately.

CONCLUSION

Although Type D personality was not predictive of adverse events in this sample, PA is an interesting and important variable to take into account in NOCAD patients. Research on psychosocial factors in NOCAD patients should consider the importance of choices of endpoint, given the heterogeneity of NOCAD patients.

Is Type D personality a risk factor for all-cause mortality? A prospective population-based study among 2625 colorectal cancer survivors from the PROFILES registry

Objective Our goal was to examine whether Type D personality and its components, negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI), were associated with all-cause mortality among colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

METHODS

CRC patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2009, as registered in the Dutch population-based Eindhoven Cancer Registry, received a questionnaire on Type D (DS14) on average 5.3years after diagnosis. Survival status (31-12-2013) was obtained from the Central Bureau for Genealogy. We used a Cox proportional hazard model to relate personality to all-cause mortality, while adjusting for demographics, clinical characteristics and cardiovascular disease (CVD).

RESULTS

Fifty percent was categorized as the 'reference group' (n=1281), 17% as 'SI only' (n=421), 12% as 'NA only' (n=309), and 21% as 'Type D' (n=532). After adjustment, CRC patients in the 'NA only' and 'Type D' groups showed an increased risk (HR=2.0, 95% CI=1.4-2.8, p<0.01, and HR=1.7, 95% CI=1.3-2.4, p<0.01) for all-cause mortality. This adverse effect of NA was limited to men aged >70. There was an additional adverse effect of SI on all-cause mortality in older men without CVD (HR=2.3, 95% CI=1.2-4.4, p=0.01). Personality was not related to mortality in women. Entering personality continuously, showed an increased risk for NA among older survivors, men and patients with comorbid CVD. Neither SI nor the interaction term was predictive in both the un- and adjusted Cox models.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that it is the NA component that drives the adverse effect of psychological distress on survival in CRC patients, which is most prominent among older men.

Is type D personality an independent risk factor for recurrent myocardial infarction or all-cause mortality in post-acute myocardial infarction patients?

Background Type D personality refers to a combination of simultaneously high levels of negative affectivity and social inhibition. The present study aimed to examine whether type D personality was independently associated with recurrent myocardial infarction or all-cause mortality in post-acute myocardial infarction patients, using any of the previously proposed methods for measuring type D personality. Design This was a prospective cohort study. Methods Utilising data from the Västmanland Myocardial Infarction Study, 946 post-acute myocardial infarction patients having data on the DS14 instrument used to measure type D personality were followed-up for recurrent myocardial infarction and all-cause mortality until 9 December 2015. Data were analysed using Cox regression, adjusted for established risk factors. Results In total, 133 (14.1%) patients suffered from type D personality. During a mean follow-up time for recurrent myocardial infarction of 5.7 (3.2) years, 166 (17.5%) patients were affected by recurrent myocardial infarction, of which 26 (15.7%) had type D personality, while during a mean follow-up time for all-cause mortality of 6.3 (2.9) years, 321 (33.9%) patients died, of which 42 (13.1%) had type D personality. After adjusting for established risk factors, type D personality was not significantly associated with recurrent myocardial infarction or all-cause mortality using any of the previously proposed methods for measuring type D personality. A weak association was found between the social inhibition part of type D personality and a decreased risk of all-cause mortality, but this association was not significant after taking missing data into account in a multiple imputation analysis. Conclusions No support was found for type D personality being independently associated with recurrent myocardial infarction or all-cause mortality in post-acute myocardial infarction patients, using any of the previously proposed methods for measuring type D personality.