Are psychosocial risk factors and certain personality traits associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction in Indians?
Recent stress and specific personality traits (hyperactive, dominant, egoistic, introvert) are significantly associated with myocardial infarction in an Indian population.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of psychosocial factors (lack of social support, stress and subjective well-being) and personality traits with myocardial infarction (MI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study involving 100 cases and 100 matched controls was conducted in Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi. RESULTS: Stress over 1 year was significantly higher in cases (P < 0.001). However, difference was not significant when scores of social support (P = 0.2), Presumptive Stressful Life Event (PSLE) over lifetime (P = 0.058) and subjective well-being (P = 0.987) were compared. MI was significantly associated with hyperactive (P < 0.001), dominant (P = 0.03), egoistic (P < 0.001) and introvert (P < 0.001) personalities. CONCLUSION: Certain personality traits and recent stress may be important risk factors of MI, especially in Indians. The finding may have implications on the preventive strategies planned for MI patients.
Gupta et al. (Sat,) studied this question.