Impact of Type A Behavior Pattern on the Development of Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis

Although numerous studies in Western Europe and North America indicate the impact of type A behavior pattern on coronary artery atherosclerosis or coronary heart disease (CAD), few studies conducted in Asian countries indicate that type A behavior pattern had no effect on coronary artery atherosclerosis The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between type A behavior pattern and coronaryartery atherosclerosis among Iranian populations. This study was performed with a case-control design. Data were collected from 77 patients with coronary artery atherosclerosis, referred to Afshar Hospital Professional Heart Clinic in Yazd city, and 78 normal controls, in JulyandAugust 2013. These groups were selected by convenience sampling method. The two groups completed the Jenkins Activity Survey (JAS) to measure the type A behavior. The results suggest that the two groups were significantly different regarding the type A behavior (p<0/01), and components of irritability/impatience (p<0/01), speed (p<0/01), and achievement striving (p<0/05). Results of this study, contrary to Asian data, confirmed the hypothesis that type A behavior pattern is associated with increased risk of coronary artery atherosclerosis in Iranian populations.