January 1, 1998Psychosomatic Medicine
Are Hostility and Anxiety Associated With Carotid Atherosclerosis in Healthy Postmenopausal Women?
Key result
Anger suppression, public self-consciousness, and hostile attitudes were significant independent predictors of higher carotid intima-media thickness in healthy postmenopausal women over 10 years.
Why the study?
Do high levels of trait anger, hostility, and anxiety predict increased carotid atherosclerosis in healthy postmenopausal women?
Population
200 healthy middle-aged postmenopausal women (menopausal for at least 5 years)
Comparison
High levels of trait anger, hostility, and anxiety vs Lower levels of trait anger, hostility, and…
Design
Cohort
Follow-up
average 10 years
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
Supports psychosocial risk assessment; hypothesis-generating for intervention trials before practice change.
Study Design
Type
Cohort (n=200)
Structured PICO
Do high levels of trait anger, hostility, and anxiety predict increased carotid atherosclerosis in healthy postmenopausal women?
P
Population
200 healthy middle-aged postmenopausal women (menopausal for at least 5 years)
I
Intervention
High levels of trait anger, hostility, and anxiety (measured by Spielberger Trait Anger, Anxiety, Anger-in, Public Self-Consciousness, and Cook-Medley Hostile Attitudes Scale)
C
Comparator
Lower levels of trait anger, hostility, and anxiety
O
Outcome
Carotid atherosclerosis measured by average intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque index via B-mode ultrasoundsurrogate
Anger suppression and hostile attitudes are significant prospective predictors of increased carotid intima-media thickness in midlife women, suggesting a role for psychosocial factors in early atherosclerosis development.
Cite This Study
Matthews et al. (1998) conducted a cohort in Healthy postmenopausal women (n=200). High trait anger, hostility, and anxiety was evaluated on Average intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque index. Anger suppression, public self-consciousness, and hostile attitudes were significant independent predictors of higher carotid intima-media thickness in healthy postmenopausal women over 10 years.