Evidence map›Paper›PMID 26646818›Full record

Observational studyCirculation. Cardiovascular quality and outcomes2016

Effects of Optimism and Gratitude on Physical Activity, Biomarkers, and Readmissions After an Acute Coronary Syndrome: The Gratitude Research in Acute Coronary Events Study.

Jeff C Huffman, Eleanor E Beale, Christopher M Celano, Scott R Beach, Arianna M Belcher, Shannon V Moore, Laura Suarez, Shweta R Motiwala, Parul U Gandhi, Hanna K Gaggin and 1 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Circulation. Cardiovascular quality and outcomes, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT01709669 (The Impact of Gratitude on Biology and Behavior in Persons With Heart Disease), which is not on this map. Cited by 51 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
51citing papers in PubMed, 5 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT01709669 completednot on this map

The Impact of Gratitude on Biology and Behavior in Persons With Heart Disease

TypeobservationalSponsorMassachusetts General HospitalRan2012 to 2014Enrolled212ConditionsMyocardial Infarction, Unstable Angina
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

51 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  13. Sociodemographic Variation in Gratitude Using a Cross-National Analysis with 22 Countries.International journal of applied positive psychology · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Jeff C HuffmanFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (J.C.H., C.M.C., S.R.B., L.S., S.R.M., P.U.G., H.K.G., J.L.J.); Department of Psychiatry (J.C.H., E.E.B., C.M.C., S.R.B., S.V.M., L.S.) and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (A.M.B., P.U.G., H.G., J.L.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (S.R.M.). jhuffman@partners.org.
Eleanor E BealeFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (J.C.H., C.M.C., S.R.B., L.S., S.R.M., P.U.G., H.K.G., J.L.J.); Department of Psychiatry (J.C.H., E.E.B., C.M.C., S.R.B., S.V.M., L.S.) and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (A.M.B., P.U.G., H.G., J.L.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (S.R.M.).
Christopher M CelanoFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (J.C.H., C.M.C., S.R.B., L.S., S.R.M., P.U.G., H.K.G., J.L.J.); Department of Psychiatry (J.C.H., E.E.B., C.M.C., S.R.B., S.V.M., L.S.) and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (A.M.B., P.U.G., H.G., J.L.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (S.R.M.).
Scott R BeachFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (J.C.H., C.M.C., S.R.B., L.S., S.R.M., P.U.G., H.K.G., J.L.J.); Department of Psychiatry (J.C.H., E.E.B., C.M.C., S.R.B., S.V.M., L.S.) and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (A.M.B., P.U.G., H.G., J.L.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (S.R.M.).
Arianna M BelcherFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (J.C.H., C.M.C., S.R.B., L.S., S.R.M., P.U.G., H.K.G., J.L.J.); Department of Psychiatry (J.C.H., E.E.B., C.M.C., S.R.B., S.V.M., L.S.) and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (A.M.B., P.U.G., H.G., J.L.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (S.R.M.).
Shannon V MooreFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (J.C.H., C.M.C., S.R.B., L.S., S.R.M., P.U.G., H.K.G., J.L.J.); Department of Psychiatry (J.C.H., E.E.B., C.M.C., S.R.B., S.V.M., L.S.) and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (A.M.B., P.U.G., H.G., J.L.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (S.R.M.).
Laura SuarezFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (J.C.H., C.M.C., S.R.B., L.S., S.R.M., P.U.G., H.K.G., J.L.J.); Department of Psychiatry (J.C.H., E.E.B., C.M.C., S.R.B., S.V.M., L.S.) and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (A.M.B., P.U.G., H.G., J.L.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (S.R.M.).
Shweta R MotiwalaFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (J.C.H., C.M.C., S.R.B., L.S., S.R.M., P.U.G., H.K.G., J.L.J.); Department of Psychiatry (J.C.H., E.E.B., C.M.C., S.R.B., S.V.M., L.S.) and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (A.M.B., P.U.G., H.G., J.L.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (S.R.M.).
Parul U GandhiFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (J.C.H., C.M.C., S.R.B., L.S., S.R.M., P.U.G., H.K.G., J.L.J.); Department of Psychiatry (J.C.H., E.E.B., C.M.C., S.R.B., S.V.M., L.S.) and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (A.M.B., P.U.G., H.G., J.L.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (S.R.M.).
Hanna K GagginFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (J.C.H., C.M.C., S.R.B., L.S., S.R.M., P.U.G., H.K.G., J.L.J.); Department of Psychiatry (J.C.H., E.E.B., C.M.C., S.R.B., S.V.M., L.S.) and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (A.M.B., P.U.G., H.G., J.L.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (S.R.M.).
James L JanuzziFrom the Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (J.C.H., C.M.C., S.R.B., L.S., S.R.M., P.U.G., H.K.G., J.L.J.); Department of Psychiatry (J.C.H., E.E.B., C.M.C., S.R.B., S.V.M., L.S.) and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine (A.M.B., P.U.G., H.G., J.L.J.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; and Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA (S.R.M.).

Funding

Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center (UL1)UL1TR000170 · NCATS · HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL · PI NADLER, LEE MARSHALL · 2012 to 2013
$31.4M
Developing a positive psychology intervention to improve cardiac health behaviorsR01HL113272 · NHLBI · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI HUFFMAN, JEFF C · 2013 to 2017
$2.6M
NCATS NIH HHS 8UL1TR000170-05NHLBI NIH HHS R01 HL113272NHLBI NIH HHS R01HL113272
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPositive psychological constructs, such as optimism, are associated with beneficial health outcomes. However, no study has separately examined the effects of multiple positive psychological constructs on behavioral, biological, and clinical outcomes after an acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Accordingly, we aimed to investigate associations of baseline optimism and gratitude with subsequent physical activity, prognostic biomarkers, and cardiac rehospitalizations in post-ACS patients. METHODS AND

resultsParticipants were enrolled during admission for ACS and underwent assessments at baseline (2 weeks post-ACS) and follow-up (6 months later). Associations between baseline positive psychological constructs and subsequent physical activity/biomarkers were analyzed using multivariable linear regression. Associations between baseline positive constructs and 6-month rehospitalizations were assessed via multivariable Cox regression. Overall, 164 participants enrolled and completed the baseline 2-week assessments. Baseline optimism was significantly associated with greater physical activity at 6 months (n=153; β=102.5; 95% confidence interval, 13.6-191.5; P=0.024), controlling for baseline activity and sociodemographic, medical, and negative psychological covariates. Baseline optimism was also associated with lower rates of cardiac readmissions at 6 months (n=164), controlling for age, sex, and medical comorbidity (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, [0.86-0.98]; P=0.006). There were no significant relationships between optimism and biomarkers. Gratitude was minimally associated with post-ACS outcomes.

conclusionsPost-ACS optimism, but not gratitude, was prospectively and independently associated with superior physical activity and fewer cardiac readmissions. Whether interventions that target optimism can successfully increase optimism or improve cardiovascular outcomes in post-ACS patients is not yet known, but can be tested in future studies. CLINICAL

trial registrationURL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01709669.

Indexed as

Attitude to HealthMotor ActivityOptimismPatient ReadmissionAcute Coronary SyndromeBiomarkersFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesSurveys and QuestionnairesBiomarkersacute coronary syndromecomorbidityconfidence intervalsexercisemyocardial infarctionoptimism

Identifiers

PMID26646818
PMCPMC4720551

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.