Evaluation of a Community-Based Cardiovascular Prevention Program in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Purpose: An outcomes’ evaluation of a community-based cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention program in persons with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. Design: A prospective, observational study. Setting: A community-setting in Ireland. Participants: Persons with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, aged 40 years or older, and 2 or more cardiovascular risk factors. Intervention: A 16-week community-based, cardiovascular prevention program, with health promotion seminars, group exercise, and individual consultations, delivered by a multidisciplinary team. Measures: Medical, lifestyle, and well-being measures. Analysis: Changes in categorical and continuous variables were analyzed using the paired exact test and the t test/Wilcoxin matched-pairs test, respectively. Results: In total, 218 persons (134 men) participated, mean age was 59.8 (10.2) years. Completion rate was 75.2% (n = 164). The proportion achieving target glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA 1c ) increased from 53% at baseline to 75% ( P < .001) at end of program. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures reduced by 8.8 mm Hg (95% CI: −11.2 to −6.4, P < .001) and 5.2 mm Hg (95% CI: −6.9 to −3.5, P < .001), respectively. Mean low-density lipoprotein cholesterol reduced from 2.45 to 2.05 mmol/L ( P < .001). Significantly higher proportions met recommended targets in diet (6.9% vs 43.4%, P < .001) and physical activity (9.2% vs 56.6%, P < .001). Psychosocial measures significantly improved at end of program. The majority of improvements were sustained at 1 year. Conclusion: Participation in this CVD prevention program was associated with significant improvements in glycemia and CVD risk factors in newly diagnosed patients with type 2 diabetes.