Religion and the Incidence of Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction is the single most common cause of death in the United States. The best assessments of standard risk factors still fail to identify most incident cases. Few studies have examined unconventional risk factors such as religion and its influence on myocardial infarction. According to Emile Durkheim, religion has life- preserving functions that impact health and well- being. Both religion and the incidence of myocardial infarction have been found to have a significant impact on the lives of the elderly. The elderly report that religion is of significant importance in their lives, and their rapidly growing population will inevitably contribute to the increasing incidence of this disease. This book is the first to examine the association between religion and the incidence of myocardial infarction among the elderly population in New Haven, Connecticut. Results from this work would help physicians and health organizations tailor appropriate treatment plans for the elderly, given that religion affects health by influencing attribution of symptoms, healthcare-seeking behavior, and compliance with medical regimens.

Celeste Torio received her Ph.D from Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, an M.P.H. from the Yale University, School of Public Health, and a B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.