Effects of a Health-Partner Intervention on Cardiovascular Risk

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Ibhar Al Mheid, Emory University; Heval Mohamed Kelli, Emory University; Yi-An Ko, Emory University; Muhammad Hammadah, Emory University; Hina Ahmed, Emory University; Salim Hayek, Emory University; Laura Vaccarino, Emory University; Thomas Ziegler, Emory University; Greg Gibson, Georgia Institute of Technology; Michelle Lampl, Emory University; Robert Alexander, Emory University; Ken Brigham, Emory University; Gregory Martin, Emory University; Arshed Quyyumi, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2016-10-01
• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2016 The Authors.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.116.004217
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of the American Heart Association
• ISSN: 2047-9980
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 10
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by the Marcus and Woodruff Foundations (Atlanta, GA); the Emory University/Georgia Tech Predictive Health Institute; and awards UL1 RR025008 and UL1 TR000454 from the Clinical and Translational Science Award Program, National Institutes of Health, National Center for Research Resources and National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.; Dr Quyyumi is supported by NIH grants 5P01HL101398‐02, 1P20HL113451‐01, 1R56HL126558‐01, 1RF1AG051633‐01, R01 NS064162‐01, R01 HL89650‐01, HL095479‐01, 1U10HL110302‐01, 1DP3DK094346‐01, and 2P01HL086773 and American Heart Association Grant No. 0000031288.; Dr Mohamed Kelli is supported by the Abraham J. and Phyllis Katz Foundation and METRIC T32 training grant.
• Keywords: PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY; Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems; cardiovascular risk; Cardiovascular System & Cardiology; Science & Technology; health partner; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; lifestyle; LIFE-STYLE INTERVENTION; WEIGHT-LOSS PROGRAM; ARTERIAL STIFFNESS; VASCULAR DYSFUNCTION; CORONARY-HEART-DISEASE; health education; PRIMARY-CARE; prevention; PREDICTIVE HEALTH
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Background: Lifestyle modifications are first‐line measures for cardiovascular disease prevention. Whether lifestyle intervention also preserves cardiovascular health is less clear. Our study examined the role of a Health Partner–administered lifestyle intervention on metrics of ideal cardiovascular health. Methods and Results: A total of 711 university employees (48±11 years; 66% women, 72% Caucasian/22.5% African Americans) enrolled in a program that promoted healthier lifestyles at Emory University (Atlanta, GA). Anthropometric, laboratory, and physical activity measurements were performed at baseline and at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years of follow‐up. Results were utilized by the Health Partner to generate a personalized plan aimed at meeting ideal health metrics. Compared to baseline, at each of the 6‐month, 1‐year, and 2‐year follow‐up visits, systolic blood pressure was lower by 3.6, 4.6, and 3.3 mm Hg (P<0.001), total cholesterol decreased by 5.3, 6.5, and 6.4 mg/dL (P<0.001), body mass index declined by 0.33, 0.45, and 0.38 kg/m2 (P<0.001), and the percentage of smokers decreased by 1.3%, 3.5%, and 3.5% (P<0.01), respectively. Changes were greater in those with greater abnormalities at baseline. Finally, the American Heart Association “Life's Simple 7” ideal cardiovascular health score increased by 0.28, 0.40, and 0.33 at 6 month, 1 year, and 2 years, respectively, compared to baseline visit. Conclusions: A personalized, goal‐directed Health Partner intervention significantly improved the cardiometabolic risk profile and metrics of cardiovascular health. These effects were evident at 6 months following enrollment and were sustained for 2 years. Whether the Health Partner intervention improves long‐term morbidity and mortality and is cost‐effective needs further investigation.