[Type A behaviour and life events as risk factors for cerebral infarct].

INTRODUCTION

The role of psychosocial factors in cerebral infarct has been little studied and is therefore still undefined. OBJECTIVE and methods. To evaluate the effect of a pattern of behaviour which predisposes to stress, and of life events, on the occurrence of cerebral infarct, we studied a group and control involving 88 patients with cerebral infarcts diagnosed clinically and on imaging studies, and a control group of 99 persons paired for age and sex who lived in our health district. To evaluate the behaviour pattern we used Jenkins abbreviated questionnaire and for life events the Holmes and Rahe questionnaire.

RESULTS

The type A behaviour pattern had a highly statistically significant association with cerebral infarct, which was not associated with the effects of other variables. This relation was the greater the lower the age of the person. It was not seen after the age of 75 years. The behaviour pattern was not related to arterial hypertension or with the aetiopathological mechanisms of the patients. In relation to the life events questionnaire, the number of events was significantly associated in the group of patients, but not with the total score of the questionnaire. However, the latter was significantly related to hypertensive patients and persons with a type A behaviour pattern. The commonest life events in both groups were related to the death or health problems of family members, the previous illnesses of the person and to financial and work problems.

CONCLUSION

The type A behaviour pattern is individually associated with cerebral infarct, whilst stressful life events were involved in the cerebral infarcts of hypertensive and type A behaviour patients.