Canonical correlation analysis of clinical and psychologic data in 4,351 men and women

Canonical correlation analysis was performed on 23 clinical coronary risk factors and on 29 psychologic characteristics measured in 4,351 patients from a preventive medicine clinic. Two canonical correlations accounting for 37% of the variance in the variables studied were identified. Clinical variables that loaded heavily on these correlations were tenseness, physical fitness (treadmill time), and no exercise program. Psychologic variables included somatic symptoms and tension. In this cross-sectional study, individuals who had high physical fitness and who exercised tended to have a low level of somatic complaints and tension.