Type D personality as a cardiovascular risk marker in the general population: results from the Gutenberg health study

ME Beutel, J Wiltink, Y Till, PS Wild, T M�nzel…�- Psychotherapy and�…, 2012 - karger.com
ME Beutel, J Wiltink, Y Till, PS Wild, T M�nzel, FM Ojeda, T Zeller, RB Schnabel, K Lackner…
Psychotherapy and psychosomatics, 2012karger.com
Background: Type D personality is considered as an independent risk factor for morbidity
and mortality in cardiovascular patients and a vulnerability factor for distress in the general
population. Because representative community studies are rare, we sought to determine the
prevalence of type D personality and its relationship with demographic characteristics,
different features of mental disorders, cardiovascular risk factors, health behavior,
endothelial function and cardiovascular biomarkers in the general population. Methods: The�…
Abstract
Background: Type D personality is considered as an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality in cardiovascular patients and a vulnerability factor for distress in the general population. Because representative community studies are rare, we sought to determine the prevalence of type D personality and its relationship with demographic characteristics, different features of mental disorders, cardiovascular risk factors, health behavior, endothelial function and cardiovascular biomarkers in the general population. Methods: The prevalence of type D personality and its correlates were analyzed cross-sectionally in a population-based sample of 5,000 Mid-Europeans aged 35–74 years from the Gutenberg Health Study. Results: The prevalence of type D personality was 22.2% without remarkable differences in sex distribution. Type D subjects were characterized by lower socioeconomic status, lack of a partnership, increased depression, anxiety, depersonalization and health care utilization. Despite its strong association with mental disorders, type D personality emerged as psychometrically distinct. Although type D personality was independently associated with coronary heart disease (OR = 1.54, p = 0.044), no associations with traditional cardiovascular risk factors were found independently from depression or anxiety. Conclusions: Although type D personality is strongly associated with depression, anxiety, impaired mental and somatic health status, and increased health care utilization, the type D construct seems to comprise dysfunctional personality patterns not covered by depression and anxiety scales. Beyond these associations, the pathways of the cardiotoxic impact of type D personality remain to be elucidated. There is a need for prospective population studies on potential links between type D personality and cardiac disease.
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