A comparison of the factors of life quality and type D personality in patients with Coronary heart disease.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the most frequent causes of death and disability around the world. More than 50 percent of factors influencing heart diseases are psychological factors. Numerous studies have examined psychological factors and more especially personality factors as a risk factor in heart diseases. The present study was an attempt to examine life quality and type D personality components in patients with coronary heart disease. Method: It was a retrospective study on 99 patients with coronary heart disease visiting angiography unit of Mostafa Khomeini Hospital in 2011. Also 91 healthy participants were selected from individuals accompanying the coronary patients based on some corresponding demographical factors. Data collection was done using life quality questionnaire (SF36) and Type D personality questionnaire (DS22). Data analysis was done using a MANOVA test. Results: The obtained results showed that coronary patients had a higher type D personality. Not surprisingly, this difference was only in negative emotions. In other words, in patients with CHD, anxiety, depression, anger, and irritability were higher than healthy individuals. They also had a lower life quality. Conclusion: With the identification of individuals with type D personality, it is possible to identify susceptible coronary heart disease patients for preventive procedures. Modifying lifestyles in such patients can reduce the severity of the disease and make the treatment effects more stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]