Association of ventricular premature complexes with electrocardiographic-estimated left ventricular mass in a population of african-american and white men and women (the atherosclerosis risk in communities [ARIC] study)

Though several large epidemiologic studies have demonstrated the positive association of anger with coronary heart disease (CHD) onset, a dearth of population-based evidence exists regarding the relationship of anger to the clinical course of CHD among people with established disease. Trait anger is conceptualized as a stable personality trait and defined as the tendency to experience frequent and intense anger. Therefore, it is plausible that the effects of trait anger on CHD are long standing. We assessed the hypothesis that trait anger predicts short-term and long-term risk for recurrent CHD among middle-aged men and women. Participants were 611 black or white men and women, ages 48 - 67, who had a history of CHD at the second clinical examination (1990-1992) of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. They were followed for the recurrence of CHD (myocardial infarction or fatal CHD) from 1990 through three different time intervals: 1995, 2003, and 2009 (maximum follow-up = 19.0 years). Trait anger (measured at Visit 2) was assessed using the Spielberger Trait Anger Scale, with scores categorized as high, moderate, and low. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race-center, educational level, waist-to-hip ratio, plasma LDL-and HDL-cholesterol levels, hypertension, diabetes, cigarette smoking status, and pack-years of cigarette smoking. After 3 - 5 years of follow-up, the risk for recurrent CHD among participants with high trait anger was more than twice that of their counterparts with low trait anger (2.24 [95% C.I: 1.14 to 4.40]). After 11 - 13 years, the risk was 80% greater (1.80 [95% C.I: 1.17 to 2.78]) and after 17 - 19 years, it was 70% greater (1.70 [95% C.I: 1.15 to 2.52]). The risk for recurrent CHD was strongest in the first time interval but remained strong and statistically significant through 19 years of follow-up. In conclusion, the experience of frequent and intense anger increases short-term and long-term risk for recurrent CHD in middle-aged men and women.

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Impact of Transcendental Meditation on Left Ventricular Mass in African American Adolescents

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2012/923153 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Vernon A. Barnes ◽

Gaston K. Kapuku ◽

Frank A. Treiber

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

Left Ventricular Mass ◽

Ventricular Remodeling ◽

Transcendental Meditation ◽

African American Adolescents ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Ventricular Mass ◽

Cardiovascular Morbidity And Mortality ◽

Before And After

Background. An early sign of ventricular remodeling is increased left ventricular mass (LVM) which over time may lead to left ventricular hypertrophy, the strongest predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, other than advancing age.Methods. 62 (30 TM; 32 CTL) African American adolescents (age16.2±1.3years) with high normal systolic BP were randomly assigned to either 4-month Transcendental Meditation (TM) or health education control groups. The echocardiographic-derived measure of LVM index (LVMI = LVM/ht2.7) was measured before and after the 4-month TM study and at 4-month followup. 2D-guided M-mode echocardiography using a Hewlett Packard 5500 echosonograph was used to determine LVMI.Results. The TM group exhibited a greater decrease in LVMI at 4-month followup compared to the CTL group (−2.6 versus +0.3 gm/ht2.7,P<0.04). The TM group exhibited a lesser increase in BMI at 4-month follow-up compared to the CTL group (0.2±1.6versus1.1±1.4,P<0.03).Conclusion. These findings indicate that among a group of prehypertensive African American adolescents, 4 months of TM compared to heath education resulted in a significant decrease in LVMI, and these changes were maintained at 4-month follow-up.

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