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Coronary Heart DiseaseENHANCEDNCT00981253

Stress Management and Biomarkers of Risk in Cardiac Rehabilitation

A study testing SMT-enhanced Cardiac Rehabilitation and Standard Cardiac Rehabilitation in people with Coronary Heart Disease, run by Duke University at 2 sites in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The purpose of this study is to assess the extent to which combining exercise and stress management training (SMT) is more effective at improving biomarkers in vulnerable cardiac patients compared to exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation alone. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 35 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Coronary Heart Disease
What is being tested?
SMT-enhanced Cardiac Rehabilitation and Standard Cardiac Rehabilitation
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
164 participants
Where
2 sitesUnited States
Study dates
Sep 2009to Feb 2016
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 35 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Diagnosis of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
  • Eligibility for Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) in North Carolina
  • Capacity to give informed consent and follow study procedures

Who cannot join

  • Received heart transplant
  • LVEF < 30%
  • Labile ECG changes prior to testing
  • Currently using a pacemaker
  • Resting BP > 200/120 mm Hg
  • Left main disease > 50%
Show all 12Show fewer
  • Unable to comply with assessment procedures
  • Unwilling or unable to be randomized to treatment groups
  • Primary diagnosis of the following psychiatric disorders: schizophrenia, dementia, current delirium, or other psychotic disorder
  • Current alcohol or substance abuse disorder
  • Acute suicide risk
  • Actively undergoing ongoing psychiatric treatment

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country.

United States2 sites
  • University of North Carolina Hospitals - Meadowmont

    Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27517

  • Duke University Medical Center - Center for Living

    Durham, North Carolina, 27710

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Enhancing Standard Cardiac Rehabilitation With Stress Management Training in Patients With Heart Disease

The purpose of this study is to assess the extent to which combining exercise and stress management training (SMT) is more effective at improving biomarkers in vulnerable cardiac patients compared to exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation alone.

Read the detailed description

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United States and in roughly half the cases its first clinical manifestations, myocardial infarction (MI) or sudden cardiac death (SCD), are fatal. There is considerable evidence that "stress" plays a significant and independent role in the occurrence of CHD and its complications. This evidence has provided the rationale for developing interventional strategies to reduce stress in susceptible individuals in order to modify the natural history of these clinical events. There are now promising data to suggest that stress management training (SMT) is one such approach, and that SMT can have beneficial effects on psychosocial and medical outcomes. However, many of the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) employing stress management approaches in CHD patients have had important methodological limitations and several of the larger RCTs have failed to demonstrate a benefit for SMT over usual care, raising questions about the value of SMT for patients with CHD. Reliance on "hard" clinical endpoints is problematic because studies require such large sample sizes that they are logistically difficult to conduct and are prohibitively expensive. The use of intermediate pathophysiologic endpoints that have been shown independently to be associated with increased risk represents a novel and exciting opportunity to examine the added value of SMT in exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) compared to CR without SMT on key biomarkers of risk in vulnerable CHD patients.

This 12-week study will enroll adults with stable CHD who are eligible for CR. Participants will be randomly assigned to either standard cardiac rehabilitation or standard cardiac rehabilitation enhanced with weekly SMT. Prior to randomization, medical screening, standardized psychosocial questionnaires, mental stress testing, assessment of diet and physical activity, and exercise testing will be conducted. Additional biomarkers of risk will be assessed through measures of flow-mediated vasodilation, inflammation, platelet function, stress hormones, baroreflex, and heart rate variability.

Participants assigned to CR alone will engage in supervised exercise routines 3 times per week. Participants will be encouraged to maintain consistent exercise duration and effort throughout each session. Participants assigned to CR enhanced with SMT will engage in standard exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation and also receive weekly group SMT. At the conclusion of the 12-week intervention, participants will return for repeat assessments of stress and biomarker measures. At 6 months, 12 months, and annually up to 4 years participants will be contacted for information regarding major adverse cardiovascular events, other medical events and medication use.

Additionally a group of age, gender, and disease matched cardiac patients referred to CR, during the same time interval, but who elected not to participate in CR will form a non-randomized comparison group for cardiac events.

Overall, 164 participants were consented for study participation at Duke University Medical Center. Of these, 151 participants were randomized to either Standard Cardiac Rehabilitation or Enhanced Cardiac Rehabilitation. Post-intervention assessments were completed on 145 participants; 151 participants were available for intention-to-treat analysis.

Being tested
SMT-enhanced Cardiac Rehabilitation, Standard Cardiac Rehabilitation
Keywords
Stress Management Training, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Stress, Depression
Medical subject headings
Coronary Disease, Depression

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • SMT-enhanced Cardiac RehabilitationBehavioural

    Standard exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation, three times per week, enhanced with weekly stress management training for 12 weeks.

  • Standard Cardiac RehabilitationBehavioural

    Supervised exercise, three times per week, for 12 weeks.

Study groups in NCT00981253
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
SMT-enhanced Cardiac RehabilitationExperimentalStandard exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation with weekly stress management training for 12 weeks.
Receives: Behavioral: SMT-enhanced Cardiac Rehabilitation
Standard Cardiac RehabilitationActive comparatorStandard cardiac rehabilitation consisting of supervised exercise for 12 weeks.
Receives: Behavioral: Standard Cardiac Rehabilitation

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Absolute Composite Stress Score

    A global stress measure (mean rank), was the primary outcome combining the following components at baseline and following treatment: Beck Depression Inventory II, Spielberger Anxiety Inventory-State, General Health Questionnaire, PROMIS Anger Questionnaire, and Perceived Stress Scale. A range from 1 to 147 was present with higher scores suggestive of better function. The change in each individual scaled score is presented in primary outcome 2.

    Measured: Baseline; 12 weeks

  2. Change From Baseline to 12 Weeks in Individual Scaled Scores

    Beck Depression Inventory II: 21-item scale used to measure depression. Scores range from 0 to 63, with higher scores suggesting greater depressive symptoms.

    State-Trait Anxiety Inventory: 20-item scale which assess levels of state anxiety. Scores range from 20 to 80 with scores ≥40 suggesting clinically significant anxiety.

    General Health Questionnaire:12-item measure of general distress. Scores range from 0 to 36, with higher scores indicating greater emotional distress.

    Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Anger: 8-item scale which assesses anger. Scores range from 8 to 40, with higher scores indicating greater anger.

    Perceived Stress Scale: 10-item measure of general distress and perceived ability to cope. Scores range from 0 to 40, higher scores indicate greater stress.

    Measured: Baseline; 12 weeks

Secondary outcomes (5)
  1. Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) - All Cause Death, MI, Cardiac Revascularization and Cardiovascular Hospitalization.

    Patients documented all medical encounters on an annual basis after enrollment. Medical records were reviewed, and events, categorized on the basis of American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association criteria. The following medical events were included: all-cause mortality, fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), coronary or peripheral artery revascularization, stroke/transient ischemic attack, and unstable angina requiring hospitalization.

    Measured: Baseline through Follow-up (median, 3.2 years)

  2. Change in High-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein

    High-sensitivity C-reactive protein was quantified by ELISA. Values >10 mg/L were truncated at 10 to account for acute inflammatory processes that may have skewed the distribution of this blood marker.

    Measured: Baseline; 12 weeks

  3. Heart Rate Variability During Controlled Breathing (HRV-DB)

    Heart rate variability was obtained from beat-to-beat heart rate. Heart rate was assessed from R-R interval changes elicited during a 100-second controlled breathing task.

    Measured: At 12 weeks

  4. Baroreflex Sensitivity

    Baroreflex sensitivity was obtained from beat-to-beat heart rate and blood pressure recorded from patients in the supine position with a Nexfin noninvasive blood pressure monitor.

    Measured: At 12 weeks

  5. Heart Rate Variability During Rest

    Heart rate variability was obtained from beat-to-beat heart rate. Heart rate was assessed from R-R interval changes elicited during 5 minutes of normal relaxed breathing

    Measured: At 12 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted22 Sep 2009 (estimated)
  2. Study startSep 2009
  3. Primary completionJul 2014
  4. Study completionFeb 2016

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
164 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT00981253
Sponsor's protocol ID
Pro00015896
Other IDs
R01HL093374-01A2
Acronym
ENHANCED
Status last verified
Jan 2018
First submitted
21 Sep 2009
Last updated
1 Feb 2018
Data monitoring committee
Yes

Publications

  • Blumenthal JA, Jiang W, Babyak MA, Krantz DS, Frid DJ, Coleman RE, Waugh R, Hanson M, Appelbaum M, O'Connor C, Morris JJ. Stress management and exercise training in cardiac patients with myocardial ischemia. Effects on prognosis and evaluation of mechanisms. Arch Intern Med. 1997 Oct 27;157(19):2213-23.

    PubMed 9342998
  • Rees K, Bennett P, West R, Davey SG, Ebrahim S. Psychological interventions for coronary heart disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(2):CD002902. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD002902.pub2.

    PubMed 15106183
  • Jones DA, West RR. Psychological rehabilitation after myocardial infarction: multicentre randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 1996 Dec 14;313(7071):1517-21. doi: 10.1136/bmj.313.7071.1517.

    PubMed 8978226
  • Frasure-Smith N, Lesperance F, Prince RH, Verrier P, Garber RA, Juneau M, Wolfson C, Bourassa MG. Randomised trial of home-based psychosocial nursing intervention for patients recovering from myocardial infarction. Lancet. 1997 Aug 16;350(9076):473-9. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(97)02142-9.

    PubMed 9274583
  • Balady GJ, Williams MA, Ades PA, Bittner V, Comoss P, Foody JM, Franklin B, Sanderson B, Southard D; American Heart Association Exercise, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Prevention Committee, the Council on Clinical Cardiology; American Heart Association Council on Cardiovascular Nursing; American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention; American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism; American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Core components of cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention programs: 2007 update: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Exercise, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Prevention Committee, the Council on Clinical Cardiology; the Councils on Cardiovascular Nursing, Epidemiology and Prevention, and Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism; and the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Circulation. 2007 May 22;115(20):2675-82. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.180945. Epub 2007 May 18.

    PubMed 17513578
  • Ades PA. Cardiac rehabilitation and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease. N Engl J Med. 2001 Sep 20;345(12):892-902. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra001529. No abstract available.

    PubMed 11565523
  • Wenger NK, Froelicher ES, Smith LK, Ades PA, Berra K, Blumenthal JA, Certo CM, Dattilo AM, Davis D, DeBusk RF, et al. Cardiac rehabilitation as secondary prevention. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Clin Pract Guidel Quick Ref Guide Clin. 1995 Oct;(17):1-23.

    PubMed 8595435
  • Blumenthal JA, Babyak M, Wei J, O'Connor C, Waugh R, Eisenstein E, Mark D, Sherwood A, Woodley PS, Irwin RJ, Reed G. Usefulness of psychosocial treatment of mental stress-induced myocardial ischemia in men. Am J Cardiol. 2002 Jan 15;89(2):164-8. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9149(01)02194-4.

    PubMed 11792336
  • Blumenthal JA, Sherwood A, Babyak MA, Watkins LL, Waugh R, Georgiades A, Bacon SL, Hayano J, Coleman RE, Hinderliter A. Effects of exercise and stress management training on markers of cardiovascular risk in patients with ischemic heart disease: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2005 Apr 6;293(13):1626-34. doi: 10.1001/jama.293.13.1626.

    PubMed 15811982
  • Blumenthal JA, Sherwood A, Smith PJ, Watkins L, Mabe S, Kraus WE, Ingle K, Miller P, Hinderliter A. Enhancing Cardiac Rehabilitation With Stress Management Training: A Randomized, Clinical Efficacy Trial. Circulation. 2016 Apr 5;133(14):1341-50. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.115.018926. Epub 2016 Mar 21.

    PubMed 27045127

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing SMT-enhanced Cardiac Rehabilitation and Standard Cardiac Rehabilitation in people with Coronary Heart Disease, run by Duke University at 2 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 12 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 1 Feb 2018. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 5 Jan 2018). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Absolute Composite Stress Score (time frame: Baseline; 12 weeks). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00981253, which also lists 10 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 1 Feb 2018.

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