Behavior Patterns, Blood Lipids, and Coronary Heart Disease

Serum lipids and lipoproteins were determined in a "blind study" of ten men who exhibited an overt behavior pattern (Pattern A) which had earlier been found to be associated with a high prevalence of clinical coronary heart disease, and ten men who showed a converse overt behavior pattern (Pattern B). The men exhibiting Type A Behavior Pattern, were also found to exhibit, in comparison to those with Type B Behavior Pattern, significantly higher serum levels of triglycerides, phospholipids, and cholesterol and of serum beta- and other low-density lipoprotein lipids, and significantly lower α/β lipoprotein cholesterol ratios. These differences were not found ascribable to any differences of diet, weight, or physical activity.