Assessing Correlational Relationships between Religious Affiliation/Activity and Cardiovascular Disease in Inpatient and Outpatient Populations Elizabeth
1 Rosen ,
2 MBBS ,
2 MD ,
Soumya Vijayalekshmy, Brian Matthew, Frank O’Neill, 2 1,2 1,2 Santos , Roman Zeltser, MD , and Amgad N. Makaryus, MD
2 MD ,
Melody
1Donald
and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell 2 Nassau University Medical Center Department of Cardiology
Background Religiosity can be defined as “adherence to beliefs, doctrines, ethics, rituals, texts, and practices associated with a higher power either alone or among organized groups.”1 Many in the medical community have begun to consider whether the psychological, emotional, or social benefits of religiosity could impact physical health, specifically cardiovascular health. Large-scale studies have demonstrated that religiosity is correlated with better health habits, such as lower rates of smoking, excessive 2 alcohol use, and increased exercise. Few studies have attempted to establish a relationship between religiosity and health outcomes. One meta-analysis found that increased spirituality and religiosity reduced overall mortality as much or more than other health interventions, such as statin therapy or consumption of fruits and vegetables.3 Though studies have been performed to explore the association between religiosity and cardiac risk factors, as well as with overall mortality, little is known about the correlation between religiosity and outcomes specific to cardiac health. The goal of this study is to assess the relationship between the religiosity of cardiac patients and their disease outcomes.
Excluding patients who are pregnant, psychiatrically ill, incarcerated, altered, demented, or lack capacity,
Patients included with CVD including obstructive/non-obstructive CAD, assessed by labs and imaging
Prospective observational study involving patient surveys and chart reviews. The Duke University Religiosity Index (DUREL) is administered to inpatients, assessing organizational religious activity, non-organizational religious activity, and intrinsic religiosity. Chart review is performed for the survey respondents, assessing demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities, and patient outcomes. This information will be analyzed to assess for a relationship between patients’ religiosity score on the survey and their health outcomes. Chi square analysis of religiosity based on DUREL score vs CVD outcome.
Results/Discussion
Chi square analysis of religiosity as DUREL score >15 vs CVD outcome (MI, CAD, CVA, PVD).. Chi2 value 0.2643 P=0.607 which is clinically insignificant.
Cardiology patients are scored based on DUREL
Although no correlation was found in our population for religiosity and CVD, further analysis of data is required to evaluate for sub-group outcomes.
Resources
Hypothesis We hypothesize that there is a correlation between degree of religiosity as quantified by the Duke University Religiosity Index, and cardiovascular disease outcomes.
Methods
NUMC cardiology inpatients and outpatients above the age of 21
1.
Outcomes collected from EMR, (duration of hospital stay, in-hospital complications, post discharge functional capacity , readmission rates, and mortality
2. 3.
Spilka, B., Hood Jr., R. W., Hunsberger, B., & Gorsuch, R. (2003). The Psychology of Religion: An Empirical Approach (3rd ed.). New York: Guilford. Kobayashi D, Shimbo T, Takahasi O, Davis RB, Wee CC. The relationship between religiosity and cardiovascular risk factors in Japan: a large-scale cohort study. J Am Soc Hypertens. 2015; 9(7):553-62. Lucchetti, G., Lucchetti, A., Koenig, H. Impact of Spirituality/Religiosity on Mortality: Comparison With Other Health Interventions