Influence of Type D Personality on Adherence to Treatment in Cardiac Patients

AIM: of the study was to examine relationship between behavioral type D and adherence to therapy in cardiological patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients (n=308, 63 [20.5%] women and 245 [79.5%] men, mean age 59+/-4 years) with stable ischemic heart disease and arterial hypertension were divided into 2 groups: with (n=84) and without (n=224) type D. Psychological status was assessed using type D scale-14 (DS-14) questionnaire, adherence to treatment - with the help of S.V. Davydov method and the Morisky-Green test. RESULTS: Patients with compared with those without type D personality more often had indicators of lower adherence to treatment (48 vs 39%, <0.05). Indicators of higher adherence were found more often in the group without type D personality (11 vs 19%, p<0.003). Indicators of lower compliance were independently associated with type D personality (odds ratio 3.21, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Patients with type D personality have lower adherence to therapy. This can be a link between type D behavior and unfavorable prognosis in patients with cardiovascular diseases.