Cited by 121Cardiac Health and Mental HealthCancer survivorship and careCardiac Imaging and Diagnostics

Reducing Emotional Distress Improves Prognosis in Coronary Heart Disease: 9-Year Mortality in a Clinical Trial of Rehabilitation

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Denollet, Johan, Brutsaert, Dirk L.·2001·Circulation

Abstract

Background The impact of treating emotional distress on prognosis in coronary heart disease (CHD) has not been documented convincingly. We tested the hypothesis that treatment-related changes in emotional distress may explain the beneficial effect of rehabilitation on prognosis. Methods and Results In this nonrandomized clinical trial, 150 men with CHD participated in rehabilitation (n=78) or received standard medical care (n=72). There were no differences between rehabilitation and control patients with regard to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) or standard care. End points were reduction in distress after 3 months and mortality after 9 years. At the end of the 3-month trial, 64 patients (43%) reported improvement and 22 (15%) reported deterioration in negative affect. Rehabilitation patients improved more ( P =0.004) and deteriorated less ( P =0.001) than control patients; rehabilitation was effective in reducing distress. After 9 years of follow-up, 15 patients had died (13 cardiac and 2 cancer deaths). Mortality was associated with LVEF ≤50% ( P =0.038) and deterioration in negative affect ( P =0.007). Rate of death was 17% (12/72) for control patients versus 4% (3/78) for rehabilitation patients ( P =0.009); rehabilitation was effective in reducing mortality. LVEF ≤50% (OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.1 to 9.8; P =0.041) and rehabilitation (OR 0.2; 95% CI 0.1 to 0.7; P =0.016) were independent predictors of mortality. Rehabilitation warded off the deleterious effect of deterioration in negative affect on prognosis. Conclusions Deterioration in negative affect is associated with a high long-term mortality risk. Warding off deterioration in negative affect is a mechanism that may explain the beneficial effect of comprehensive rehabilitation on prognosis in patients with CHD.

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  1. McKee M, Britton A, Black N, et al. Interpreting the evidence: choosing between randomized and non-randomized studies. BMJ. 1999;319: 312-315.

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Authors
Denollet, J., & Brutsaert, D. L.
Affiliations
Tilburg University (NL)
Venue
Circulation
Published
2001-10-23
Volume
104
Issue
17
Pages
2018-2023
ISSN
  • 0009-7322 (ISSN-L)
  • 1524-4539
OpenAlex
W2162925874
Cited by
121
References
37
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2021: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 7
FWCI
5.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Circulation (publishedVersion)
  • Research portal (Tilburg University) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Cardiac Health and Mental Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging › Cardiac Imaging and Diagnostics
Keywords
coronary artery disease, emotional distress, negative affect, cardiac rehabilitation, prognosis, mortality, left ventricular ejection fraction, long-term follow-up
MeSH terms
Coronary Artery Bypass, Belgium, Coronary Disease, Exercise Therapy, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Predictive Value of Tests, Prognosis, Psychological Tests, Severity of Illness Index, Stress, Psychological, Stroke Volume, Time, Survival Rate, Odds Ratio, Ventricular Function, Left, Treatment Outcome, Risk Assessment

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