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Objectives: Affective temperaments (depressive, anxious, irritable, hyperthymic, cyclothymic) are regarded as the biologically stable core of personality, and accumulating data implies their relationship with cardiovascular diseases. There are currently limited data on the association of affective temperaments and early vascular aging. The aim of our study was to assess the potential relationship of affective temperaments and vascular age, as assessed by coronary CT. Methods: In our current cross-sectional study, 209 patients referred to coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) due to suspected coronary artery disease (CAD), were included. After the evaluation of medical history and demographic parameters, all patients completed the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Vascular age was estimated using coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and we calculated its difference from chronological age for each patient. Linear regression analysis was applied to identify predictors of early vascular aging in the entire cohort and in male and female sub-populations, separately. Results: The independent predictors of early vascular aging were female sex (B = −10.82 [95% CI: −15.30 – −6.33]), diabetes mellitus (B = 7.16 [95% CI: 1.20 – 13.12]) and dyslipidemia (B = −8.28 [95% CI: 3.94 – 12.62]). Further assessing gender differences, cyclothymic temperament score proved to be an independent predictor of early vascular aging in women (B = 0.89 [95% CI: 0.04 – 1.75]), while this association was absent in men. Conclusions: Our results suggest that cyclothymic affective temperament contribute to early vascular aging in women.

Background: There is growing evidence that Five Factor Model personality traits (extraversion agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness) have an impact on cardiovascular (CV) risk. The aim of our study was to evaluate their associations with 24-hour brachial and central hemodynamic parameters and arterial stiffness in untreated patients who were studied because of elevated office blood pressure. Methods: Mobil-O-Graph was used to measure the 24-hour brachial and central parameters. The Big Five Dimensions were evaluated with the BFI questionnaire. 68 patients were involved into the study (45 men). Results: Agreeableness was inversely associated with nighttime brachial systolic blood pressure (r = −0.255, p = 0.036), with 24-hour heart rate (r = −0.243, p = 0.046), with 24-hour cardiac output (r = −0.314, p = 0.009) and with daytime cardiac output (r = −0.341, p = 0.004). Conscientiousness was inversely associated with 24-hour heart rate (r = −0.276, p = 0.023) and daytime heart rate (r = −0.283, p = 0.019). Conclusion: In conclusions, agreeableness and conscientiousness can have an impact on 24-hour hemodynamic parameters in untreated hypertensive patients.

Background: Affective temperaments (depressive, anxious, cyclothymic, irritable and hyperthymic) have important role in psychopathology, but cumulating data support their involvement in vascular pathology, especially in hypertension as well. The aim of our study was to evaluate their associations with 24-h peripheral and central hemodynamic parameters in untreated patients who were studied because of elevated office blood pressure. Methods: The oscillometric Mobil-O-Graph was used to measure the 24-h peripheral and central parameters. Affective temperaments, depression and anxiety were evaluated with Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego Autoquestionnaire, Beck and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) questionnaires, respectively. Results: Seventy four patients were involved into the study (45 men). In men after the adjustment for age, irritable affective temperament score was associated with nighttime peripheral and central systolic blood pressure (β = 1.328, std. error = 0.522, p = 0.015 and β = 1.324, std. error = 0.646, p = 0.047, respectively). In case of nighttime peripheral systolic blood pressure this association remained to be significant after further adjustment for smoking, alcohol consumption, sport activity and body mass index and became non-significant after adjustment for Beck and HAM-A scores. In case of nighttime central systolic blood pressure the association lost its significance after the adjustment for smoking, alcohol consumption and sport activity. Conclusion: Irritable affective temperament can have an impact on nighttime peripheral and central systolic blood pressures in untreated men with elevated office blood pressure. HIGHLIGHTS •Affective temperaments can have importance in vascular pathology. •Associations were evaluated between temperaments and ABPM and hemodynamic parameters. •In men irritable temperament correlated with nighttime peripheral and central SBP. •Affective temperaments can have an impact on 24-h blood pressure patterns.

Background: Affective temperaments (depressive, irritable, hyperthymic, anxious, cyclothymic) have important role in psychopathology, but cumulating data support their involvement in vascular pathology, especially in hypertension as well. The aim of our study was to evaluate their associations with 24-hour brachial and central hemodynamic parameters in untreated patients who were studied because of elevated office blood pressure. Methods: Mobil-O-Graph was used to measure the 24-hour brachial and central parameters. Affective temperaments, depression and anxiety were evaluated with TEMPS-A, Beck and HAMA questionnaires, respectively. Results: 84 patients were involved into the study (49 men). Irritable temperament score was associated with nighttime brachial systolic blood pressure (r = 0.279, p = 0.010), with nighttime brachial mean arterial pressure (r = 0.239, p = 0.028), with nighttime central systolic blood pressure (r = 0.288, p = 0.008), with nighttime central diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.238, p = 0.029), with 24-hour cardiac output (r = 0.298, p = 0.006) and inversely with 24-hour reflection magnitude (r = −0.297, p = 0.006). These associations were attenuated after the adjustment of age, depression and anxiety and were absent in women. Conclusion: In conclusion, affective temperaments, especially irritable temperament can have an impact on 24-hour brachial and central hemodynamics in untreated hypertensive men.

Background: Affective temperaments (anxious, depressive, cyclothymic, irritable and hyperthymic) are subclinical manifestations of major mood disorders and there is cumulating evidence about their involvement is somatic disorders as well. The aim of our study was to evaluate the associations of affective temperament scores with arterial stiffness parameters in hypertensive patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, chronic, well-controlled hypertensive patients, with no history of depression, completed the TEMPS-A, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) autoquestionnaires in three GP practices. Arterial stiffness was measured with the tonometric PulsePen device. Results: Altogether 183 patients were involved. In regression analysis irritable temperament score was a predictor of pulse wave velocity (adjusted for age, brachial systolic blood pressure, onset of hypertension, serum glucose, GFR-EPI, BDI and HAM-A, β=0.170, p=0.031), whereas hyperthymic temperament score was a predictor of augmentation index (adjusted for age, gender, smoking, heart rate, BDI and HAM-A, β=−0.211, p=0.004). Limitations: The cross-sectional design of the study precludes the evaluation of causality. Conclusion: Our results suggest that high irritable temperament score might be a marker of increased, whereas high hyperthymic score a decreased cardiovascular risk among chronic hypertensive patients, however, follow-up studies are required to confirm this hypothesis. The evaluation of affective temperaments seems to be a potential tool to study psychosomatic processes.