Effects of environmental stress following myocardial infarction on behavioral measures and heart failure progression: The influence of isolated and group housing conditions

•We tested whether social isolation or crowding increases the risk of heart failure.•Responses to housing manipulation were examined in a post-myocardial infarction model.•Open field testing was valid to determine stress-responses following myocardial infarction.•Myocardial infarction did not increase behavioral stress-responses compared to sham.•The post-infarction heart failure risk was not influenced by isolation or crowding.