Type A behaviour pattern: is it a risk factor for hypertension?

Type A behaviour pattern has been found to be associated with coronary heart diseases, but its association with hypertension is inconsistent. To investigate the association between type A behaviour pattern and hypertension, 221 known hypertensive patients and a control group of 221 non-hypertensive patients in Basra, Iraq, were interviewed for type A behaviour using to a special questionnaire. Blood pressure, height and weight were measured. The proportion with type A behaviour was significantly higher in hypertensive than non-hypertensive patients (57.5% versus 24.9%) and a highly significant association was found between type A behaviour and hypertension (OR 4.08, 95% CI: 2.72-6.11). Type A behaviour pattern was shown to be an independent risk factor for the development of hypertension.