Objective 

Mental stress–induced myocardial ischemia (MSIMI), a transient myocardial ischemic response to mental stress, is associated with poorer outcomes among patients with coronary heart disease and is more likely to occur among women. However, predictors of MSIMI are not well explored. The current study investigated the association between experiences of everyday discrimination and MSIMI among patients with recent myocardial ischemia and contrasted the results with conventional stress–induced myocardial ischemia (CSIMI). We examined sex differences in associations.

Methods 

We studied 295 post-MI patients (145 women, 150 men). Provocation of myocardial ischemia with mental stress (speech task) and conventional stress (exercise or pharmacologic) was assessed by myocardial perfusion imaging. Frequency of exposure to everyday discrimination was assessed via questionnaire using the Everyday Discrimination Scale (EDS).

Results 

The mean age was 51 years in both women and men, and the EDS score ranged from 10 to 38 (mean [standard deviation] = 17 [6] years). After multivariable analysis, each standard deviation increase in the EDS score (more frequent exposure) was associated with an increased odds of MSIMI (odds ratio [OR] = 1.57 [1.10–2.23]). The EDS score was not associated with CSIMI (OR = 0.86 [0.64–1.17]). Women demonstrated a twofold increase (OR = 1.96 [1.13–3.38], p = .02) in the adjusted odds of MSIMI, with each standard deviation increase in the EDS score compared with a 1.4-fold increase (OR = 1.40 [0.80–2.44], p = .24) among men; however, interaction was not statistically significant.

Conclusions 

Among post-MI patients, everyday discrimination was positively associated with occurrence of MSIMI, but not with CSIMI; associations were more pronounced among women.