Although we've reported in the past that anger may be linked to heart disease, previous reviews have failed to conclusively support the association. Now, researchers report that anger and hostility are associated with a 19% increase in heart disease-related events among individuals with no previous history of heart disease, according to a review published in the March 17, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology .

Investigators from the University College London analyzed 25 studies investigating heart disease outcomes in initially healthy populations and 19 studies investigating outcomes in individuals who already had heart disease. They found that anger and hostility were associated with a 19% increase in coronary heart disease events among the healthy individuals and a 24% increase among those with pre-existing heart disease. The association between these negative states of mind and heart disease was particularly strong in men who had no history of heart disease.

The investigators found that the increase in heart disease-related risk might have due to high-risk behaviors, such as smoking, overeating, and physical inactivity. The findings of this study suggest that patients who experience strong feelings of anger and hostility might benefit from behavioral interventions to reduce their risk of heart disease-related events.

Source

J Am Coll Cardiol 2009;53:936-946.