A basic educational program for cardiovascular prevention reduced the proportion of patients with LDL cholesterol > 100 mg/dL from 69.3% to 65.5% (p<0.001), though dropout rates were high.
Observational (n=15,073)
Does a basic educational program improve symptoms and cardiovascular risk factors in an unselected outpatient population?
A basic educational program for cardiovascular prevention improves modifiable risk factors and symptoms but is severely limited by low patient adherence.
Absolute Event Rate: 65.5% vs 69.3%
p-value: p=<0.001
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are the current leading causes of death and disability globally. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of a basic educational program for cardiovascular prevention in an unselected outpatient population. METHODS: All participants received an educational program to change to a healthy lifestyle. Assessments were conducted at study enrollment and during follow-up. Symptoms, habits, ATP III parameters for metabolic syndrome, and American Heart Association's 2020 parameters of cardiovascular health were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 15,073 participants aged ≥ 18 years entered the study. Data analysis was conducted in 3,009 patients who completed a second assessment. An improvement in weight (from 76.6 ± 15.3 to 76.4 ± 15.3 kg, p = 0.002), dyspnea on exertion NYHA grade II (from 23.4% to 21.0%) and grade III (from 15.8% to 14.0%) and a decrease in the proportion of current active smokers (from 3.6% to 2.9%, p = 0.002) could be documented. The proportion of patients with levels of triglycerides > 150 mg/dL (from 46.3% to 42.4%, p 100 mg/dL (from 69.3% to 65.5%, p < 0.001) improved. A ≥ 20% improvement of AHA 2020 metrics at the level graded as poor was found for smoking (-21.1%), diet (-29.8%), and cholesterol level (-23.6%). A large dropout as a surrogate indicator for low patient adherence was documented throughout the first 5 visits, 80% between the first and second assessments, 55.6% between the second and third assessments, 43.6% between the third and fourth assessments, and 38% between the fourth and fifth assessments. CONCLUSION: A simple, basic educational program may improve symptoms and modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, but shows low patient adherence.
Chaves et al. (Thu,) conducted a observational in Cardiovascular risk (n=15,073). Basic educational program for cardiovascular prevention vs. Baseline was evaluated on Proportion of patients with LDL cholesterol > 100 mg/dL (p=<0.001). A basic educational program for cardiovascular prevention reduced the proportion of patients with LDL cholesterol > 100 mg/dL from 69.3% to 65.5% (p<0.001), though dropout rates were high.
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