Trial Outcomes & Findings for Mental Stress and Myocardial Ischemia After MI: Sex Differences, Mechanisms and Prognosis (NCT NCT04123197)

NCT ID: NCT04123197

Last Updated: 2026-07-24

Results Overview

The main outcome was a composite endpoint of recurrent MI, unstable angina, hospitalization for decompensated heart failure, and cardiovascular (CV) death. A mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia (MSI) status of positive or negative was used as the main predictor in regression models.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

306 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

3 Years

Results posted on

2026-07-24

Participant Flow

Participants were recruited from Grady and Emory Healthcare System in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Participant enrollment began February 28, 2020, and all follow-up was complete by May 31, 2025.

Participants were followed for 3 years with phone calls and review of medical records and the National Death Index, to assess the occurrence of outcome events (a composite endpoint or recurrent MI, unstable angina, hospitalization for decompensated heart failure, and cardiovascular death).

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Young Participants With Prior MI
Participants aged 60 or less who experienced a MI within the last 8 months will undergo a stress challenge to assess MSI and will then be followed for 3 years. Stress Challenge: The stress challenge will assess how different parts of the body react to stress. Participants will be given no specific details about the contents of the test before administration.
Overall Study
STARTED
306
Overall Study
COMPLETED
296
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
10

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Young Participants With Prior MI
Participants aged 60 or less who experienced a MI within the last 8 months will undergo a stress challenge to assess MSI and will then be followed for 3 years. Stress Challenge: The stress challenge will assess how different parts of the body react to stress. Participants will be given no specific details about the contents of the test before administration.
Overall Study
Death
6
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
4

Baseline Characteristics

Missing information for one partcipant.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Young Participants With Prior MI
n=306 Participants
Participants aged 60 or less who experienced a MI within the last 8 months underwent a stress challenge to assess MSI and were followed for 3 years. Stress Challenge: The stress challenge assessed how different parts of the body react to stress. Participants were given no specific details about the test content before administration.
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
n=306 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
306 Participants
n=306 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants
n=306 Participants
Age, Continuous
51 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7 • n=306 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
176 Participants
n=306 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
130 Participants
n=306 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
12 Participants
n=306 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
294 Participants
n=306 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=306 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
1 Participants
n=306 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
14 Participants
n=306 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
1 Participants
n=306 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
164 Participants
n=306 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
118 Participants
n=306 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
8 Participants
n=306 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=306 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
306 participants
n=306 Participants
Body Mass Index (BMI)
31 Kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6 • n=306 Participants
Left-ventricular ejection fraction (%)
50 percentage of blood pumped
STANDARD_DEVIATION 12 • n=306 Participants
Education >12 years
207 Participants
n=306 Participants
Income < $25,0000
74 Participants
n=305 Participants • Missing information for one partcipant.
Participants who have a history of smoking
124 Participants
n=305 Participants • This information was missing for one participant.

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 Years

Population: The analysis population includes all participants who completed the stress challenge and the study visits.

The main outcome was a composite endpoint of recurrent MI, unstable angina, hospitalization for decompensated heart failure, and cardiovascular (CV) death. A mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia (MSI) status of positive or negative was used as the main predictor in regression models.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Young Participants With Prior MI
n=292 Participants
Participants aged 60 or less who experienced a MI within the last 8 months underwent a stress challenge to assess MSI and were followed for 3 years. Stress Challenge: The stress challenge assessed how different parts of the body react to stress. Participants were given no specific details about the test content before administration.
Cardiovascular Events
MSI Negative · Cardiovascular events
60 Participants
Cardiovascular Events
MSI Positive · Cardiovascular events
11 Participants
Cardiovascular Events
MSI Positive · No cardiovascular events
35 Participants
Cardiovascular Events
MSI Negative · No cardiovascular events
186 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 Years

Population: Results include all participants who completed all study visits and are presented as counts of those who experienced a cardiovascular event versus those who did not. The number of participants who experienced a myocardial infarction or CV death in relation to their MSI status.

The number of participants experiencing myocardial infarction or CV death in relation to MSI status (positive or negative).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Young Participants With Prior MI
n=292 Participants
Participants aged 60 or less who experienced a MI within the last 8 months underwent a stress challenge to assess MSI and were followed for 3 years. Stress Challenge: The stress challenge assessed how different parts of the body react to stress. Participants were given no specific details about the test content before administration.
Myocardial Infarction or Cardiovascular Death
MSI Positive · Myocardial Infarction or Cardiovascular Death
5 Participants
Myocardial Infarction or Cardiovascular Death
MSI Positive · No Myocardial Infarction or Cardiovascular Death
41 Participants
Myocardial Infarction or Cardiovascular Death
MSI Negative · Myocardial Infarction or Cardiovascular Death
13 Participants
Myocardial Infarction or Cardiovascular Death
MSI Negative · No Myocardial Infarction or Cardiovascular Death
233 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 Years

Population: Results include all participants who completed all study visits and are presented as counts of participants who experienced a cardiovascular death and their MSI status.

The number of participants with a CV death in relation to MSI status (positive or negative).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Young Participants With Prior MI
n=292 Participants
Participants aged 60 or less who experienced a MI within the last 8 months underwent a stress challenge to assess MSI and were followed for 3 years. Stress Challenge: The stress challenge assessed how different parts of the body react to stress. Participants were given no specific details about the test content before administration.
Cardiovascular Death
MSI Positive · Cardiovascular death
0 Participants
Cardiovascular Death
MSI Positive · No Cardiovascular death
46 Participants
Cardiovascular Death
MSI Negative · Cardiovascular death
4 Participants
Cardiovascular Death
MSI Negative · No Cardiovascular death
242 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 Years

Population: Mortality was assessed among participants who completed the stress challenge and all study visits. One participant's death was reported in the participant flow but was not included in this outcome analysis due to missing MSI information. The number of participants included in the mortality analysis by MSI status was as follows: MSI-positive (n = 46) and MSI-negative (n = 246).

All-cause death in relation to MSI status (positive or negative).

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Young Participants With Prior MI
n=292 Participants
Participants aged 60 or less who experienced a MI within the last 8 months underwent a stress challenge to assess MSI and were followed for 3 years. Stress Challenge: The stress challenge assessed how different parts of the body react to stress. Participants were given no specific details about the test content before administration.
Total Mortality
MSI Positive · All-cause death
0 Participants
Total Mortality
MSI Positive · No mortality
46 Participants
Total Mortality
MSI Negative · All-cause death
5 Participants
Total Mortality
MSI Negative · No mortality
241 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 Years

Population: Results include all participants who completed all study visits and are presented as the number of participants, stratified by MSI status, who experienced a cardiovascular event versus no event.

This is a composite endpoint of recurrent MI, unstable angina, or CV death, where the number of participants experiencing this endpoint in relation to MSI status (positive or negative) was examined.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Young Participants With Prior MI
n=292 Participants
Participants aged 60 or less who experienced a MI within the last 8 months underwent a stress challenge to assess MSI and were followed for 3 years. Stress Challenge: The stress challenge assessed how different parts of the body react to stress. Participants were given no specific details about the test content before administration.
Cardiovascular Events Excluding Heart Failure
MSI Positive · Cardiovascular Events Excluding Heart Failure
9 Participants
Cardiovascular Events Excluding Heart Failure
MSI Positive · No events
37 Participants
Cardiovascular Events Excluding Heart Failure
MSI Negative · Cardiovascular Events Excluding Heart Failure
47 Participants
Cardiovascular Events Excluding Heart Failure
MSI Negative · No events
199 Participants

Adverse Events

Young Participants With Prior MI

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 6 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Professor Viola Vaccarino, MD, PhD

Emory University

Phone: 404-727-8710

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place