Spirituality, Religion, and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Recovering From an Acute Myocardial Infarction
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the prospective relationship between spiritual experiences and health in a sample of patients surviving an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with depression or low social support. METHODS: A subset of 503 patients participating in the enhancing recovery in coronary heart disease (ENRICHD) trial completed a Daily Spiritual Experiences (DSE) questionnaire within 28 days from the time of their AMI. The questionnaire assessed three spirituality variables-worship service/church attendance, prayer/meditation, and total DSE score. Patients also completed the Beck Depression Inventory to assess depressive symptoms and the ENRICHD Social Support Inventory to determine perceived social support. The sample was subsequently followed prospectively every 6 months for an average of 18 months to assess all-cause mortality and recurrent AMI. RESULTS: Of the 503 participants who completed the DSE questionnaire at the time of index AMI, 61 (12%) participants either died or sustained a recurrent MI during the follow-up period. After adjustment for gender, education level, ethnicity, and a composite medical prognosis risk score derived specifically for the ENRICHD trial, we observed no relationship between death or nonfatal AMI and total spirituality as measured by the DSE (p = .446), worship service attendance (p = .120), or frequency of prayer/meditation (p = .679). CONCLUSION: We found little evidence that self-reported spirituality, frequency of church attendance, or frequency of prayer is associated with cardiac morbidity or all-cause mortality post AMI in patients with depression and/or low perceived support.
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A US-based study reported that spiritual interventions did not significantly impact quality of life or reduce hospital readmissions among CVD patients.
“A US-based study reported that spiritual interventions did not significantly impact quality of life or reduce hospital readmissions among CVD patients [45].”
A prospective study among MI survivors did not show associations between organizational religiosity, private religious practice, or spiritual experiences and all-cause mortality or risk of recurrent MI.
“A prospective study conducted among a select group of myocardial infarction (MI) survivors who were at risk for a second MI due to their high rates of depression and social isolation did not show associations between organizational religiosity, private religious practice, or spiritual experiences and all-cause mortality or risk of recurrent MI (Blumenthal et al., 2007).”
From Advancing our understanding of religion and spirituality in the context of behavioral medicine (2017) · cites this paper as Blumenthal et al., 2007
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“A US-based study reported that spiritual interventions did not significantly impact quality of life or reduce hospital readmissions among CVD patients [45].”
Background
- Authors
- Blumenthal, J. A., Babyak, M. A., Ironson, G., Thoresen, C., Powell, L., Czajkowski, S., Burg, M., Keefe, F. J., Steffen, P., & Catellier, D.
- Affiliations
- Duke University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Blumenthal, James A.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Published
- 2007-07
- Volume
- 69
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 501-508
- ISSN
- 0033-3174 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2060869466
- Cited by
- 119
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2024: 3 · 2023: 44 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 6.97
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychosomatic Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (n01hc055141-005, n01hc055144-006, n01hc055143-000, n01hc055145-005, n01hc055140-003, n01hc055148-000, n01hc055146-001, n01hc055147-000, n01hc055142-002)
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (N01-HC-55147, N01-HC-55140, N01-HC-55146, N01-HC-55144, N01-HC-55142, N01-HC-55143, N01-HC-55141, N01-HC-55148, N01-HC-55145)
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH49679, R01MH049679)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Health and Mental Health
- Social Sciences › Demography › Workplace Spirituality and Leadership
- Keywords
- spirituality, religion, acute myocardial infarction, depression, social support, church attendance, prayer and meditation, all-cause mortality, reinfarction, cardiac morbidity, daily spiritual experiences
- MeSH terms
- Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Mortality, Myocardial Infarction, Recurrence, Religion, Risk, Social Support, United States, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Treatment Outcome, Spirituality
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