Caffeinated beverage use among type a male patients suspected of CAD/CHD: A mechanism for increased risk?

Abstract

The possible interrelationship of the ‘AIAI’ (i.e. aggravation, irritation, anger and impatience) of type A behavior and habitual caffeine use was examined as one plausible mechanism relating AIAI/TAB to coronary heart disease. Total daily caffeine intake was calculated be weighing the daily use of cups of coffee (1.0), glasses or cups of tea (0.5) and glasses, bottles or cans of pop (0.25) reported by 36 male patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography. High versus low groupings, according to two measures of type A behavior (the type A scale of the Jenkins Activity Survey and an ‘AIAI’ scale from the Ketterer Stress Symptom Frequency Checklist), were constructed and caffeine intake compared. The high AIAI group reported almost two more units (cups of coffee) per day, and was substantially younger than its counterparts. The influence of type A behavior on CAD/CHD may be mediated, in part or whole, by elevated caffeine intake.