CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Volume 33, No 4, July/August 2022 174 AFRICA increases by one standard unit, %Δ cTnT will decrease by 0.26 (i.e. 0.26 standard deviations on the %Δ cTnT scale). Logistic multiple regression analyses (Table 5) in the Caucasian group showed that conscientiousness was associated with a lower likelihood of meeting a previously defined cTnT cut-off point of 5.6 pg/ml [OR 0.91 (0.84–0.97), p = 0.007], thereby indicating that conscientiousness lowered the probability of meeting the cut-off point by 9%. In Caucasians with high avoidance coping scores, both neuroticism [OR 0.90 (0.83–0.98), p = 0.021] and conscientiousness [OR 0.84 (0.74–0.96), p = 0.013] also lowered the probability of meeting this cut-off point by 10 and 16%, respectively. No significant associations were seen in the African group. Multiple linear and logistic regressions were not performed in Caucasians seeking social support coping at scores ≥ 28, because the sample size was too small (n = 8). Excluding atrial fibrillation cases and adjusting for waist circumference and physical activity did not change the results of the regression analyses. Discussion In a bi-ethnic South African cohort, we aimed to examine relationships between personality traits and coping strategies, and to assess associations between established hypertension-related cTnT cut-off points, personality traits and coping strategies. We Table 4. Forward multiple regression analyses indicating associations between three-year changes in cardiac troponin T and personality traits in a bi-ethnic cohort with and without considering coping style %∆ cTnT Total Defensive coping score ≥ 31 Seeking social support coping score ≥ 28 Avoidance coping score ≥ 23 Africans (n = 155) (n = 61) (n = 61) (n = 55) Adjusted R2 < 0.10 0.14 < 0.10 < 0.10 β (95% CI) p β (95% CI) p β (95% CI) p β (95% CI) p Extraversion NS NS NS NS Neuroticism NS NS NS NS Conscientiousness NS –0.26 (–0.50; –0.03) 0.034 NS NS Openness to experience –0.16 (–0.32; –0.00) 0.050 –0.24 (–0.48; 0.00) 0.056 –0.22 (–0.47; 0.03) 0.083 NS Agreeableness NS NS NS NS Caucasians (n = 181) (n = 78) (n = 8) (n = 105) Adjusted R2 < 0.10 < 0.10 – < 0.10 β (95% CI) p β (95% CI) p β (95% CI) p β (95% CI) p Extraversion NS NS – NS Neuroticism NS NS – NS Conscientiousness NS NS – NS Openness to experience NS NS – NS Agreeableness NS NS – NS Forward stepwise regression analyses showing standardised regression coefficients β (95% confidence interval). We applied case-wise deletion with F to enter 2.5 and F to remove 0.5. Additional independent variables included gender, age, cotinine and log gamma-glutamyl transferase. %∆, percentage change; cTnT, cardiac troponin T; NS, not significant. Table 5. Probability of personality traits to predict hypertension-related cTnT cut-off points in Africans and Caucasians with and without considering coping style cTnT cut-off point of 4.2 pg/ml Without considering coping style Defensive coping score ≥ 31 Seeking social support score ≥ 28 Avoidance coping score ≥ 23 Africans (n = 155) (n = 61) (n = 61) (n = 55) Nagelkerke R2 0.31 0.35 0.29 0.37 OR (95% CI) p OR (95% CI) p OR (95% CI) p OR (95% CI) p Extraversion 0.97 (0.91–1.04) 0.244 0.99 (0.89–1.10) 0.860 0.94 (0.86–1.04) 0.235 0.93 (0.85–1.03) 0.164 Neuroticism 1.01 (0.97–1.06) 0.515 0.94 (0.85–1.03) 0.175 1.02 (0.95–1.09) 0.649 1.05 (0.97–1.13) 0.272 Conscientiousness 0.99 (0.93–1.06) 0.807 0.90 (0.77–1.05) 0.170 0.97 (0.86–1.10) 0.663 0.99 (0.88–1.12) 0.898 Openness to experience 0.98 (0.91–1.06) 0.618 1.00 (0.86–1.16) 0.972 1.06 (0.92–1.21) 0.457 1.08 (0.91–1.29) 0.398 Agreeableness 1.07 (1.00–1.15) 0.064 1.06 (0.93–1.21) 0.383 1.04 (0.92–1.17) 0.541 0.94 (0.79–1.12) 0.501 cTnT cut-off point of 5.6 pg/ml Caucasians (n = 181) (n = 78) (n = 8) (n = 105) Nagelkerke R2 0.30 0.50 – 0.40 OR (95% CI) p OR (95% CI) p OR (95% CI) p OR (95% CI) p Extraversion 0.97 (0.90–1.04) 0.376 0.92 (0.79; 1.07) 0.275 – 0.93 (0.83–1.04) 0.227 Neuroticism 0.96 (0.90–1.01) 0.082 0.91 (0.81; 1.03) 0.129 – 0.90 (0.83–0.98) 0.021 Conscientiousness 0.91 (0.84–0.97) 0.007 0.93 (0.82; 1.07) 0.307 – 0.84 (0.74–0.96) 0.013 Openness to experience 1.05 (0.97–1.14) 0.225 1.13 (0.95–1.35) 0.157 – 1.00 (0.87–1.15) 0.963 Agreeableness 1.02 (0.93–1.11) 0.692 1.02 (0.86–1.22) 0.800 – 1.10 (0.96–1.26) 0.186 Data adjusted for gender and a priori covariates (age, cotinine and gamma-glutamyl transferase). Odds ratio (OR) > 1: higher likelihood of an outcome upon exposure; OR < 1: lower likelihood of an outcome upon exposure; OR = 1: outcome is not affected by the exposure.51 cTnT, cardiac troponin T.
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