# Investigation of Sex Differences in Physical Activity and its Relationships with Stress After Myocardial Infarction

> **NIH NIH F31** · EMORY UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $48,974

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT/SUMMARY
Although heart disease is the number one cause of death among women, prevention efforts in women have
lagged. Additionally, in most studies to date, research on heart disease has focused on older women, but there
is a growing burden of myocardial infarction among women under 60 years of age. Recent studies point to
stress as playing a more important role in the manifestation of cardiovascular disease risk factors in younger
women compared to younger men. Women experience increased emotional and physical symptoms as a
result of stress. Psychological stress and autonomic physiological (i.e., heart rate variability) are associated
with physical inactivity. Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and death.
Therefore, more research is needed to investigate the role of physical inactivity as a unique risk factor for
cardiovascular diseases amongst young women. We will leverage data from the NHLBI-funded study: Mental
Stress and Myocardial Ischemia After MI: Sex Differences, Mechanisms and Prognosis (MIMS3) (2 R01
HL109413) in order to investigate the role of stress and physical activity in a group of post-MI women and men.
In AIM 1, we will compare physical activity levels between young post-MI women and men. In AIM 2, we will
investigate whether daily reports of psychological stress are temporally associated with physical activity levels
in post-MI individuals and examine for interaction by sex. And in AIM 3, we will examine whether autonomic
physiology (i.e., heart rate variability) is temporally associated with physical activity levels in post-MI individuals
and examine for interaction by sex. We hypothesize that there will be differences in physical activity between
women and men who are post-MI. We also hypothesize that there will be a bi-directional, temporal relationship
between both physiological and autonomic physiology and physical activity. This research project will be
important in generating the impetus for future studies regarding risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in
young, post-MI individuals, especially with regards to stress reduction as a lever for increasing physical activity.
We hope that this research aids in decisions made by public health practitioners, clinicians, and policy-makers
in the design of interventions for post-MI populations that could help narrow the gap in and reduce the risk
factors for negative cardiovascular outcomes by sex.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10898637
- **Project number:** 5F31HL170697-02
- **Recipient organization:** EMORY UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Kara Suvada
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $48,974
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10898637

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10898637, Investigation of Sex Differences in Physical Activity and its Relationships with Stress After Myocardial Infarction (5F31HL170697-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10898637. Licensed CC0.

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