Type D personality is associated with hyperlipidemia in patients with myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE There are many studies indicating the role of psychological factors in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorders. Type D as a new personality construct has been proposed by Denollet, characterized by the joint global traits including negative affectivity and social inhibition. The purpose of this study was to examine the link between type D personality and hyperlipidemia in patients with myocardial infarction (MI). MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and seventy-six consecutive patients admitted to the cardiac care unit (CCU) wards of nine hospitals in Isfahan, Iran, following MI, were selected based on the inclusive and exclusive criteria. The patients completed demographic questionnaire and Type D Personality Scale (DS14). Their medical data were obtained from medical records. Chi-squared test, Student's t-test, and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS Of the 176 subjects, 63 patients (35.8%) were type D. In univariate analysis, hyperlipidemia was the only significant variable (56% vs. 40%, P = 0.041) found to be associated with type D. Also, by multivariable logistic regression analysis, hyperlipidemia [Odds Ratio (OR) 0.374; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.175-0.796] was the only independently significant variable found to be linked with type D personality. No other statistically significant differences were found between the two groups on demographic and medical factors characteristics. CONCLUSION The type D personality was associated with hyperlipidemia. Thus, personality factors may make people vulnerable to metabolic syndromes.