Introduction: The outcomes of cardiovascular disease are consistently worse among women, regardless of age or disease severity. Such trend might arise from psychosocial factors, which should be examined in this population.Objective: To evaluate the influence of type-D personality on anxiety and depression symptoms reported by female patients after a first acute coronary syndrome.Material and Methods: As part of a larger study, 34 female patients with a first acute coronary syndrome were compared with 43 controls on psychosocial measures (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; type-D personality, DS - 14).Results: Hypertension (p < 0.001), diabetes (p < 0.05), dyslipidemia (p < 0.05), type-D personality (p = 0.001) and anxiety (p < 0.001) were more prevalent among patients. Exercise (p < 0.05) and antidepressant use (p < 0.05) were more common among controls. Logistic regression analysis confirmed that higher prevalence of hypertension (p < 0.05), dyslipidemia (p < 0.05), type-D personality (p < 0.05), anxiety (p < 0.05) and less antidepressant use (p < 0.05), were independently associated with acute coronary syndrome. Type-D personality was associated with higher Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale scores in controls (anxiety: p = 0.001; depression: p < 0.001) but not in patients.Discussion: High anxiety after an acute coronary syndrome might reflect a short-term adaptive response, albeit worsening the disease long-term prognosis. The lack of differences in some group comparisons (patients versus controls for depression scores; type-D ‘positive’ versus type-D ‘negative’ for anxiety and depression scores within patients) is discussed.Conclusion: Type-D personality, high anxiety, hypertension and dyslipidemia seem to cluster among female acute coronary syndrome patients. Nevertheless, type-D personality itself was not associated with higher anxiety and depressive scores during the post-acute period.
Type D Personality in Never Depressed Patients at Their First Acute Coronary Syndrome
