OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of a 4-week inpatient non-pharmacological risk factor modification programme for individuals with the metabolic syndrome. The aim of the program was to reduce patients' over risks for stroke and myocardial infarction. METHODS: A prospective clinical study including 2468 patients--1096 men and 1372 women--with and average age of 50 +/- 10 years. The patients were referred to the programme from primary care units and hospitals where treatment options were exhausted. RESULTS: All risk factor levels for stroke and myocardial infarction decreased. The reduction of weight among men was 4.7 +/- 2.6 kg and 3.8 +/- 1.8 kg among women from an initial weight of 96 +/- 17 kg and 85 +/- 16 kg, respectively. The patients systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 15/10 mmHg for men and 14/9 mmHg among women from initial average for the whole population of 148/90 +/- 19/11 mmHg and 146/87 +/- 19/12 mmHg, respectively. The greatest decrease in weight and blood pressure occurred in men and women with an initial body mass index of > or = 30 and with a diastolic blood pressure of > or = 90; in this group, the average reductions in weight were 5.8 +/- 2.4 kg for men and 4.4 +/- 1.7 kg for women; the reductions in systolisk/diastolisk blood pressure were 22/15 +/- 16/9 mmHg (p < 0.001) for both men and women. A reduction of medication (DDD) although not a goal was also achieved. CONCLUSION: The results prove the value of a comprehensive and highly structured inpatient approach to lifestyle modification. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The results should give cause to trials with half-way strategies integrating features from the inpatient programme into the design of risk factor interventions.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the effectiveness of a 4-week inpatient non-pharmacological risk factor modification programme for individuals with the metabolic syndrome. The aim of the program was to reduce patients' over risks for stroke and myocardial infarction. METHODS: A prospective clinical study including 2468 patients--1096 men and 1372 women--with and average age of 50 +/- 10 years. The patients were referred to the programme from primary care units and hospitals where treatment options were exhausted. RESULTS: All risk factor levels for stroke and myocardial infarction decreased. The reduction of weight among men was 4.7 +/- 2.6 kg and 3.8 +/- 1.8 kg among women from an initial weight of 96 +/- 17 kg and 85 +/- 16 kg, respectively. The patients systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased by 15/10 mmHg for men and 14/9 mmHg among women from initial average for the whole population of 148/90 +/- 19/11 mmHg and 146/87 +/- 19/12 mmHg, respectively. The greatest decrease in weight and blood pressure occurred in men and women with an initial body mass index of > or = 30 and with a diastolic blood pressure of > or = 90; in this group, the average reductions in weight were 5.8 +/- 2.4 kg for men and 4.4 +/- 1.7 kg for women; the reductions in systolisk/diastolisk blood pressure were 22/15 +/- 16/9 mmHg (p < 0.001) for both men and women. A reduction of medication (DDD) although not a goal was also achieved. CONCLUSION: The results prove the value of a comprehensive and highly structured inpatient approach to lifestyle modification. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The results should give cause to trials with half-way strategies integrating features from the inpatient programme into the design of risk factor interventions.