We looked specifically for a genetic link between personality traits and cardiovascular disease [22]. Hostility, depression, anger, and anxiety have been associated with cardiovascular risk factors, including arterial stiffness and thickness (see [28] and references therein), and are independent predictors of incident cardiovascular disease and mortality [29]. Several mechanistic links have been proposed to explain the relationship between personality traits and cardiovascular diseases and outcomes [30]. However, the basis for the association has been conjectural. We find no substantive sharing of a genetic basis for cardiovascular traits and any psychological traits. For example, genetic correlation between N2 (hostility and anger) or A4 (low compliance/aggression) and IMT, PWV, SBP, DBP, or heart rate was not significantly different from zero.
