effect of personality behavior pattern, type A and type B, on myocardial ischemia during daily life

ABSTRACT

Type A behavior has been related to coronary heart disease as an independent factor. Therefore, ischemic electrocardiographic [ECG] changes may be more prominent Type A than in Type B individuals .ECG abnormalities were assessed by the cardiac infarction injury score which has predictive power for sudden death[1] [I] To fmd out the relationship between length and severity of ischemia in Holter monitoring of myocardial ischemia during daily life and personality [type A and type B] through a study of a sample of patients during a stressful time. [2]To compare between personality [type A and type B] in the findings of Holter monitoring. Holter ECG was carried out on 80 patients suffering from an ischemic heart disease referred consecutively to the Holter ECG out patient clinic in Al-Kadhmiya Teaching Hospital. Wail's scale was employed on the patients to know the type of personality. The results of the study show that there is a significant difference between patients with [personality type A and those with type B] in episodes of painful ischemia but there is no significant difference in terms of severity and length of ischemia between personality types. Mental stress -induced ischemia had longer total duration and more frequent episodes of ambulatory ischemia episodes[2,3].The study showed that more than half patients were considered Type A .Painful episodes of myocardial ischemia occurred more frequently in Type A patients during a stressful period of ambulatory Holter monitoring compared with Type B. This study showed that during daily life period that type A personality has more episodes of painful ischemia than type B. Recommendation In light of these results, it is recommended that a further study on a larger sample for a longer time is necessary in order to demonstrate more clearly the differences between personality type A and type B.