Intercessory prayer and cardiovascular disease progression in a coronary care unit population: a randomized controlled trial. Aviles, J. M., Whelan, S. E., Hernke, D. A., Williams, B. A., Kenny, K. E., O'Fallon, W. M., & Kopecky, S. L. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 76(12):1192–1198, December, 2001.
doi  abstract   bibtex   
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 = or \textgreater70 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.
@article{aviles_intercessory_2001,
	title = {Intercessory prayer and cardiovascular disease progression in a coronary care unit population: a randomized controlled trial},
	volume = {76},
	issn = {0025-6196},
	shorttitle = {Intercessory prayer and cardiovascular disease progression in a coronary care unit population},
	doi = {10.4065/76.12.1192},
	abstract = {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 = or {\textgreater}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.},
	language = {eng},
	number = {12},
	journal = {Mayo Clinic Proceedings},
	author = {Aviles, J. M. and Whelan, S. E. and Hernke, D. A. and Williams, B. A. and Kenny, K. E. and O'Fallon, W. M. and Kopecky, S. L.},
	month = dec,
	year = {2001},
	pmid = {11761499},
	keywords = {Age Factors, Aged, Cardiovascular Diseases, Comorbidity, Coronary Care Units, Diabetes Complications, Disease Progression, Disease-Free Survival, Double-Blind Method, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Heart Arrest, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Myocardial Revascularization, Patient Readmission, Risk Factors, Severity of Illness Index, Smoking, Spiritual Therapies, Treatment Outcome},
	pages = {1192--1198},
}

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