Constructing a coronary scale for ischemic heart disease: case-control study

Abstract

Aim: To develop a scale measuring proneness to ischemic heart disease.

Methods: Ischemic heart disease was angiographically documented in 187 men. In 187 matched controls the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease was ruled out by examination of medical records and history data, and when necessary, clinical examination and specialized diagnostic procedures. Item analysis of the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) was performed on 100 men with ischemic heart disease and their male controls, and then a replication study was performed on the remaining 87 pairs.

Results: A Coronary Scale was constructed from 8 EPQ items significantly and consistently different between the groups. Most of these items were drawn from the neuroticism scale. The Coronary Scale yielded significant correlations with emotionally saturated psychological variables.

Conclusion: Coronary Scale may be useful in everyday practice to select patients with ischemic heart disease and those who are at higher risk to develop disease. It could be used for detecting a high-risk group of emotionally labile subjects to concentrate efforts for prevention of coronary disease.