Type a behaviour pattern as a risk factor after myocardial infarction: a review

Ten studies, involving a total of 5826 patients, on type A and post-infarct morbidity/mortality are reviewed. Persons who were assessed to be type A before or shortly after infarction appear not to be at greater risk for death or recurrent cardiac morbidity in the first years subsequent to infarction. In fact they may enjoy lower risk. Persons who show large reductions in type A behaviour likely suffer fewer cardiac recurrences than those who do not. A conceptualization of type A as a modifiable cardiac risk factor which people are inclined to lessen after suffering infarction, is consonant with the findings. An intriguing finding that type A MI-survivors have a greater risk for sudden cardiac death than do non-type A persons awaits replication.