TY - JOUR
T1 - Anger in young men and subsequent premature cardiovascular disease
T2 - The Precursors Study
AU - Chang, Patricia P.
AU - Ford, Daniel E.
AU - Meoni, Lucy A.
AU - Wang, Nae Yuh
AU - Klag, Michael J.
PY - 2002/4/22
Y1 - 2002/4/22
N2 - Background: Anger can trigger myocardial ischemia and may be an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, but its effect on early compared with late onset of disease is unclear. Methods: We performed a prospective study of 1055 men followed up for 32 to 48 years to examine the risk of premature and total cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with anger responses to stress during early adult life. Highest level of anger was defined as a self-report of all 3 possible anger reactions to stress (expressed or concealed anger, gripe sessions, and irritability) on a checklist questionnaire administered in medical school. Premature disease was defined as events before age 55 years. Results: During a median follow-up period of 36 years, 205 men developed CVD (cumulative incidence at 76 years, 34.5%), of whom 77 men developed premature disease (cumulative incidence before 55 years, 7.9%). The highest level of anger was associated with an increased risk of premature CVD (adjusted relative risk, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-8.6), including premature coronary heart disease (relative risk, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-11.8) and premature myocardial infarction (relative risk, 6.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-22.3), compared with lower levels of anger. When CVD events after age 55 years were included, there was no longer a statistically significant association between anger and CVD. Conclusion: High level of anger in response to stress in young men is associated with an increased risk of subsequent premature CVD, particularly myocardial infarction.
AB - Background: Anger can trigger myocardial ischemia and may be an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease, but its effect on early compared with late onset of disease is unclear. Methods: We performed a prospective study of 1055 men followed up for 32 to 48 years to examine the risk of premature and total cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with anger responses to stress during early adult life. Highest level of anger was defined as a self-report of all 3 possible anger reactions to stress (expressed or concealed anger, gripe sessions, and irritability) on a checklist questionnaire administered in medical school. Premature disease was defined as events before age 55 years. Results: During a median follow-up period of 36 years, 205 men developed CVD (cumulative incidence at 76 years, 34.5%), of whom 77 men developed premature disease (cumulative incidence before 55 years, 7.9%). The highest level of anger was associated with an increased risk of premature CVD (adjusted relative risk, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-8.6), including premature coronary heart disease (relative risk, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-11.8) and premature myocardial infarction (relative risk, 6.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-22.3), compared with lower levels of anger. When CVD events after age 55 years were included, there was no longer a statistically significant association between anger and CVD. Conclusion: High level of anger in response to stress in young men is associated with an increased risk of subsequent premature CVD, particularly myocardial infarction.
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U2 - 10.1001/archinte.162.8.901
DO - 10.1001/archinte.162.8.901
M3 - Article
C2 - 11966341
AN - SCOPUS:0037156370
SN - 0003-9926
VL - 162
SP - 901
EP - 906
JO - Archives of internal medicine
JF - Archives of internal medicine
IS - 8
ER -