Intercessory Prayer and Cardiovascular Disease Progression in a Coronary Care Unit Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial

doi:10.4065/76.12.1192

Mayo Clinic Proceedings

Volume 76, Issue 12, December 2001, Pages 1192-1198

https://doi.org/10.4065/76.12.1192 Get rights and content

Objective

To determine the effect of intercessory prayer, a widely practiced complementary therapy, on cardiovascular disease progression after hospital discharge.

Patients and Methods

In this randomized controlled trial conducted between 1997 and 1999, a total of 799 coronary care unit patients were randomized at hospital discharge to the intercessory prayer group or to the control group. Intercessory prayer, ie, prayer by 1 or more persons on behalf of another, was administered at least once a week for 26 weeks by 5 intercessors per patient. The primary end point after 26 weeks was any of the following: death, cardiac arrest, rehospitalization for cardiovascular disease, coronary revascularization, or an emergency department visit for cardiovascular disease. Patients were divided into a high-risk group based on the presence of any of 5 risk factors (age =70 years, diabetes mellitus, prior myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular disease, or peripheral vascular disease) or a low-risk group (absence of risk factors) for subsequent primary events.

Results

At 26 weeks, a primary end point had occurred in 25.6% of the intercessory prayer group and 29.3% of the control group (odds ratio [OR], 0.83 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.60–1.14]; P=.25). Among high-risk patients, 31.0% in the prayer group vs 33.3% in the control group (OR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.60–1.34]; P=.60) experienced a primary end point. Among low-risk patients, a primary end point occurred in 17.0% in the prayer group vs 24.1% in the control group (OR, 0.65 [95% CI, 0.20-1.36]; P=.12).

Conclusions

As delivered in this study, intercessory prayer had no significant effect on medical outcomes after hospitalization in a coronary care unit.

Section snippets

Study Population

This single-center, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was conducted at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn, between July 4, 1997, and October 21, 1999. Male and female patients aged 18 years or older admitted to the Saint Marys Hospital CCU and discharged alive with a CV diagnosis were eligible to participate. The study was approved by the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board, and written informed consent was obtained as required by Minnesota Statute 144.335. Of 1965 CCU admissions

Patient Characteristics

Seven hundred sixty-two patients (383 in the IP group and 379 in the control group) were included in the statistical analyses, based on complete follow-up. We detected no significant differences between the IP group and the control group with respect to demographic characteristics or measures of CV disease at baseline (Table 1). Follow-up was incomplete in 37 cases because of absence of outside hospital records (9 patients); withdrawal of consent (1 patient); inability to locate (10 patients);

DISCUSSION

In the medical community, randomized controlled trials are the “gold standard” to establish treatment effect. It was our aim to design a trial to examine the possible effect of IP on health outcomes of CCU patients. In our study design, IP is analogous to a trial medication; unlike a trial medication, however, the most effective administration timing, dosage, and form of IP are not established.

A double-blind trial design was used to isolate the effect of prayer from the benefits of patient

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: This study was supported by the Saint Marys Hospital Sponsorship Board.

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Original ArticleIntercessory Prayer and Cardiovascular Disease Progression in a Coronary Care Unit Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective

Patients and Methods

Results

Conclusions

Section snippets

Study Population

Patient Characteristics

DISCUSSION

Soc Sci Med

Am J Cardiol

Am J Cardiol

J Chronic Dis

Beliefs and attitudes of hospital inpatients about faith healing and prayer

J Fam Pract

Health locus of control and helpfulness of prayer

Heart Lung

Timeless Healing: The Power and Biology of Belief

Systematic analysis of research on religious variables in four major psychiatric journals, 1978–1982

Am J Psychiatry

Learning Objectives for Medical Student Education: Guidelines for Medical Schools (MSOP Report)

No room at the inn?: neglect of religious variables by clinical epidemiologists [abstract]

Clin Res

Original Article
Intercessory Prayer and Cardiovascular Disease Progression in a Coronary Care Unit Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial