Coronary Artery DiseaseNCT07355192
Hybrid Group Singing
A study testing group singing (hybrid format) and instructional sing-along video series in people with Coronary Artery Disease and Elderly, run by Medical College of Wisconsin at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The overall objective of the planned future clinical trial is to test the investigator's central hypothesis that habitual singing over several weeks, similar to habitual exercise, will lead to sustained and favorable vascular adaptation, thereby lowering cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 55 to 89 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Coronary Artery Disease, Elderly
- What is being tested?
- group singing (hybrid format) and instructional sing-along video series
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 32 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 11 May 2026to Feb 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 55 to 89 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- history of coronary artery disease (defined as having at least 1 of the following: myocardial infarction, coronary stent, PCI, CABG, coronary stenosis at least 50%, or coronary artery calcification score at least 300 Agatston units)
Who cannot join
- Parkinson's disease or tremor
- upper arm fistula
- fingernail onychomycosis
- pregnancy
- current tobacco use
- current illicit drug use
Show all 12Show fewer
- current excessive alcohol use (defined as more than 14 drinks/week for women, more than 28 drinks/week for men)
- unstable CAD (active symptoms of chest discomfort)
- supplemental oxygen use
- more than mild cognitive impairment (as documented in the medical record by patient's treatment teams)
- inability to follow study procedures
- non-English speaking
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226
Jacquelyn Kulinski, MD, FASPC, 414-955-6896, jakulinski@mcw.edu
Ryan Kacala, 414-955-6885, rkacala@mcw.edu
About this study
Official title: Group Singing (Hybrid Format) or Solo Singing in Older Adults With Coronary Artery Disease: A Feasibility Study
The overall objective of the planned future clinical trial is to test the investigator's central hypothesis that habitual singing over several weeks, similar to habitual exercise, will lead to sustained and favorable vascular adaptation, thereby lowering cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The overall objective of this study is to refine and protocolize the singing interventions and test the feasibility of the future trial design. The investigative team has previously studied solo singing. Collective singing, as in a choir or small group, is associated with a positive sense of social inclusion, well-being, and improved mood, including in older adults.
Read the detailed description
The investigator previously studied 65 subjects (mean age 68±7, 40% women) with known CAD in a randomized, control cross-over clinical trial of singing interventions: (1) a 30-minute period of guided singing from an in-person coach (music therapist), (2) a 30-minute period of singing along to an instructional video created by and including a professor of voice and 'inexperienced, older singing student,' and (3) a 'rest' control during which subjects underwent a brief hearing test. Fifty-four percent reported a physical or orthopedic limitation. The primary outcome was vascular endothelial function. There was statistically significant improvement in microvascular endothelial function, as measured by the Framingham reactive hyperemia index (fRHI), after 30 minutes of singing in the instructional video arm (30.9%, p=0.007) compared to the rest control. The observed change in fRHI in the prior clinical trial translates into a ~25% reduction in CVD risk, which is comparable to traditional cardiac rehabilitation program participation. There was no improvement in macrovascular function, as assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation. The visit with the music therapist coach did not reach statistical significance. Unfortunately, this may have been related to disruption of the in-person coach visits during the COVID pandemic, where the investigator continued the clinical trial but moved to a virtual interaction for the one-on-one coach visits (n=20 out of 65 subjects).
Why should group singing be considered? Collective singing, as in a choir or small group, is associated with a positive sense of social inclusion, well-being, and improved mood (less anxiety and depression), including in older adults and may be less anxiety-provoking than one-on-one singing. From a healthcare systems standpoint, group singing would be more efficient and cost-saving (lower per-person cost than individual singing therapy), which has been shown for other treatments without compromising efficacy. With a longer intervention planned for 12 weeks, there will be ample opportunity for the therapeutic relationship between patients and music therapist. The investigator needs to show that this acute, beneficial vascular adaptation is sustained after habitual singing over several weeks, thereby lowering future CVD risk. Before the investigator can execute a large-scale efficacy trial, the study team needs to determine the most acceptable frequency, duration, and delivery format (in-person and/or virtual) that is feasible and tailored to the target population. This study will help the investigator and team protocolize the group singing and video interventions, execute a feasibility trial on a smaller scale, and assess the fidelity of the delivered interventions in preparation for the larger efficacy trial.
- Conditions
- Coronary Artery Disease, Elderly
- Being tested
- group singing (hybrid format), instructional sing-along video series
- Keywords
- group singing, individual singing
- Medical subject headings
- Coronary Artery Disease
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
group singing (hybrid format)Behavioural
12-weeks of group singing, combination of in-person and virtual sessions, 3 times weekly
instructional sing-along video seriesBehavioural
12-week solo singing video series done independently, 3 times weekly
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| group singing (hybrid format) | Active comparator | Group singing sessions are a hybrid of in-person and virtual participation with in-person participation encouraged. Intake forms will be used to assess musical preference, prior music experience, and pertinent medical conditions to consider. Songs will be selected based on music preference of the subjects. At the start of each session, the music therapist will review the importance of singing and lead the group in taking deep breaths together. Throughout sessions, the therapist will encourage subjects to sing as much as possible, explaining that it's not about how they sound but how they feel. Initially, the group singing format will be 40 minutes of singing (includes a vocal warm-up), three times weekly, for a total of 12 weeks. The total singing time is the same as in the solo singing video arm. Based on focus group feedback, the formats could change. However, we will aim to keep total singing time the same (i.e., 120 minutes of singing per week). Receives: Behavioral: group singing (hybrid format) |
| individual sing-along video series | Active comparator | Participants in this arm watch and sing to an online video series independently. The video series is created by a professor of voice with older students in the videos. We plan to use REDCap to deliver the assigned videos at set times and frequencies and display the videos in an embedded audio player for the subjects. Use of REDCap will allow us to track when subjects are watching the videos with reminders sent up to five times. We will also include 2 questions at the end on how much they enjoyed the video (scale 1-10) and how much of the 40 minutes were sung. Inserting questions at the end confirms that participants likely viewed the entire video. Receives: Behavioral: instructional sing-along video series |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Adherence
The mean percent of sessions attended.
Measured: 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Enrollment rate
Proportion of subjects who enroll out of all approached, eligible patients and participate in at least one session.
Measured: 12 weeks
Retention rate
Proportion of enrolled subjects who complete all study visits.
Measured: out of 2 study visits (baseline and post-intervention visit after 12 weeks)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Jan 2026
- Study start11 May 2026
- Primary completionFeb 2028 (estimated)
- Study completionFeb 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Coronary Artery DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Medical College of WisconsinThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Parallel with baseline hybrid group randomized design
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Medical College of Wisconsin
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jacquelyn Kulinski, Medical College of Wisconsin
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07355192
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 00056785
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 12 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 13 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Publications
Bagherimohamadipour M, Hammad M, Visotcky A, Sparapani R, Kulinski J. Effects of singing on vascular health in older adults with coronary artery disease: a randomized, crossover trial. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2025 Apr 28;12:1546462. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2025.1546462. eCollection 2025.
PubMed 40357442
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Group Singing (Hybrid Format) or Solo Singing in Older Adults With Coronary Artery Disease: A Feasibility Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07355192
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 00056785
- Conditions
- Coronary Artery Disease, Elderly
- Keywords
- group singing, individual singing
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Medical College of WisconsinUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 11 May 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Feb 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Feb 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 21 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The overall objective of the planned future clinical trial is to test the investigator's central hypothesis that habitual singing over several weeks, similar to habitual exercise, will lead to sustained and favorable vascular adaptation, thereby lowering cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The overall objective of this study is to refine and protocolize the singing interventions and test the feasibility of the future trial design. The investigative team has previously studied solo singing. Collective singing, as in a choir or small group, is associated with a positive sense of social inclusion, well-being, and improved mood, including in older adults.
Detailed description
The investigator previously studied 65 subjects (mean age 68±7, 40% women) with known CAD in a randomized, control cross-over clinical trial of singing interventions: (1) a 30-minute period of guided singing from an in-person coach (music therapist), (2) a 30-minute period of singing along to an instructional video created by and including a professor of voice and 'inexperienced, older singing student,' and (3) a 'rest' control during which subjects underwent a brief hearing test. Fifty-four percent reported a physical or orthopedic limitation. The primary outcome was vascular endothelial function. There was statistically significant improvement in microvascular endothelial function, as measured by the Framingham reactive hyperemia index (fRHI), after 30 minutes of singing in the instructional video arm (30.9%, p=0.007) compared to the rest control. The observed change in fRHI in the prior clinical trial translates into a ~25% reduction in CVD risk, which is comparable to traditional cardiac rehabilitation program participation. There was no improvement in macrovascular function, as assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation. The visit with the music therapist coach did not reach statistical significance. Unfortunately, this may have been related to disruption of the in-person coach visits during the COVID pandemic, where the investigator continued the clinical trial but moved to a virtual interaction for the one-on-one coach visits (n=20 out of 65 subjects).
Why should group singing be considered? Collective singing, as in a choir or small group, is associated with a positive sense of social inclusion, well-being, and improved mood (less anxiety and depression), including in older adults and may be less anxiety-provoking than one-on-one singing. From a healthcare systems standpoint, group singing would be more efficient and cost-saving (lower per-person cost than individual singing therapy), which has been shown for other treatments without compromising efficacy. With a longer intervention planned for 12 weeks, there will be ample opportunity for the therapeutic relationship between patients and music therapist. The investigator needs to show that this acute, beneficial vascular adaptation is sustained after habitual singing over several weeks, thereby lowering future CVD risk. Before the investigator can execute a large-scale efficacy trial, the study team needs to determine the most acceptable frequency, duration, and delivery format (in-person and/or virtual) that is feasible and tailored to the target population. This study will help the investigator and team protocolize the group singing and video interventions, execute a feasibility trial on a smaller scale, and assess the fidelity of the delivered interventions in preparation for the larger efficacy trial.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Parallel with baseline hybrid group randomized design
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| group singing (hybrid format) | Active comparator | Behavioral: group singing (hybrid format)Group singing sessions are a hybrid of in-person and virtual participation with in-person participation encouraged. Intake forms will be used to assess musical preference, prior music experience, and pertinent medical conditions to consider. Songs will be selected based on music preference of the subjects. At the start of each session, the music therapist will review the importance of singing and lead the group in taking deep breaths together. Throughout sessions, the therapist will encourage subjects to sing as much as possible, explaining that it's not about how they sound but how they feel. Initially, the group singing format will be 40 minutes of singing (includes a vocal warm-up), three times weekly, for a total of 12 weeks. The total singing time is the same as in the solo singing video arm. Based on focus group feedback, the formats could change. However, we will aim to keep total singing time the same (i.e., 120 minutes of singing per week). |
| individual sing-along video series | Active comparator | Behavioral: instructional sing-along video seriesParticipants in this arm watch and sing to an online video series independently. The video series is created by a professor of voice with older students in the videos. We plan to use REDCap to deliver the assigned videos at set times and frequencies and display the videos in an embedded audio player for the subjects. Use of REDCap will allow us to track when subjects are watching the videos with reminders sent up to five times. We will also include 2 questions at the end on how much they enjoyed the video (scale 1-10) and how much of the 40 minutes were sung. Inserting questions at the end confirms that participants likely viewed the entire video. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 55 to 89 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- history of coronary artery disease (defined as having at least 1 of the following: myocardial infarction, coronary stent, PCI, CABG, coronary stenosis at least 50%, or coronary artery calcification score at least 300 Agatston units)
Key exclusion criteria (12 listed)
- Parkinson's disease or tremor
- upper arm fistula
- fingernail onychomycosis
- pregnancy
- current tobacco use
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| group singing (hybrid format)12-weeks of group singing, combination of in-person and virtual sessions, 3 times weekly | Behavioural | group singing (hybrid format) |
| instructional sing-along video series12-week solo singing video series done independently, 3 times weekly | Behavioural | individual sing-along video series |
Primary outcome
Adherence
Time frame: 12 weeks
The mean percent of sessions attended.
2 secondary outcomes
Enrollment rate
Time frame: 12 weeks
Retention rate
Time frame: out of 2 study visits (baseline and post-intervention visit after 12 weeks)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Jul 2026.
- Background: PubMed 40357442Bagherimohamadipour M, Hammad M, Visotcky A, Sparapani R, Kulinski J. Effects of singing on vascular health in older adults with coronary artery disease: a randomized, crossover trial. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2025 Apr 28;12:1546462. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2025.1546462. eCollection 2025.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing group singing (hybrid format) and instructional sing-along video series in people with Coronary Artery Disease and Elderly, run by Medical College of Wisconsin at 1 site 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 1 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Adherence (time frame: 12 weeks). 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 NCT07355192, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 13 Jul 2026.