BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases stem from modifiable risk factors. Peer support is a proven strategy for many chronic illnesses. Randomized trials assessing the efficacy of this strategy for global cardiovascular risk factor modification are lacking. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the hypothesis that a peer group strategy would help improve healthy behaviors in individuals with cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: A total of 543 adults 25 to 50 years of age with at least 1 risk factor were recruited; risk factors included hypertension (20%), overweight (82%), smoking (31%), and physical inactivity (81%). Subjects were randomized 1:1 to a peer group-based intervention group (IG) or a self-management control group (CG) for 12 months. Peer-elected leaders moderated monthly meetings involving role-play, brainstorming, and activities to address emotions, diet, and exercise. The primary outcome was mean change in a composite score related to blood pressure, exercise, weight, alimentation, and tobacco (Fuster-BEWAT score, 0 to 15). Multilevel models with municipality as a cluster variable were applied to assess differences between groups. RESULTS:Participants' mean age was 42 ± 6 years, 71% were female, and they had a mean baseline Fuster-BEWAT score of 8.42 ± 2.35. After 1 year, the mean scores were significantly higher in the IG (n = 277) than in the CG (n = 266) (IG mean score: 8.84; 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.37 to 9.32; CG mean score: 8.17; 95% CI: 7.55 to 8.79; p = 0.02). The increase in the overall score was significantly larger in the IG compared with the CG (difference: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.32 to 1.18; p = 0.02). The mean improvement in the individual components was uniformly greater in the IG, with a significant difference for the tobacco component. CONCLUSIONS: The peer group intervention had beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors, with significant improvements in the overall score and specifically on tobacco cessation. A follow-up assessment will be performed 1 year after the final assessment reported here to determine long-term sustainability of the improvements associated with peer group intervention. (Peer-Group-Based Intervention Program [Fifty-Fifty]; NCT02367963).
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Cardiovascular diseases stem from modifiable risk factors. Peer support is a proven strategy for many chronic illnesses. Randomized trials assessing the efficacy of this strategy for global cardiovascular risk factor modification are lacking. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the hypothesis that a peer group strategy would help improve healthy behaviors in individuals with cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: A total of 543 adults 25 to 50 years of age with at least 1 risk factor were recruited; risk factors included hypertension (20%), overweight (82%), smoking (31%), and physical inactivity (81%). Subjects were randomized 1:1 to a peer group-based intervention group (IG) or a self-management control group (CG) for 12 months. Peer-elected leaders moderated monthly meetings involving role-play, brainstorming, and activities to address emotions, diet, and exercise. The primary outcome was mean change in a composite score related to blood pressure, exercise, weight, alimentation, and tobacco (Fuster-BEWAT score, 0 to 15). Multilevel models with municipality as a cluster variable were applied to assess differences between groups. RESULTS:Participants' mean age was 42 ± 6 years, 71% were female, and they had a mean baseline Fuster-BEWAT score of 8.42 ± 2.35. After 1 year, the mean scores were significantly higher in the IG (n = 277) than in the CG (n = 266) (IG mean score: 8.84; 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.37 to 9.32; CG mean score: 8.17; 95% CI: 7.55 to 8.79; p = 0.02). The increase in the overall score was significantly larger in the IG compared with the CG (difference: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.32 to 1.18; p = 0.02). The mean improvement in the individual components was uniformly greater in the IG, with a significant difference for the tobacco component. CONCLUSIONS: The peer group intervention had beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors, with significant improvements in the overall score and specifically on tobacco cessation. A follow-up assessment will be performed 1 year after the final assessment reported here to determine long-term sustainability of the improvements associated with peer group intervention. (Peer-Group-Based Intervention Program [Fifty-Fifty]; NCT02367963).
Authors: Miguel Cainzos-Achirica; Ugo Fedeli; Naveed Sattar; Charles Agyemang; Anne K Jenum; John W McEvoy; Jack D Murphy; Carlos Brotons; Roberto Elosua; Usama Bilal; Alka M Kanaya; Namratha R Kandula; Pablo Martinez-Amezcua; Josep Comin-Colet; Xavier Pinto Journal: Atherosclerosis Date: 2019-05-16 Impact factor: 5.162
Authors: Javier Valero-Elizondo; Joseph A Salami; Chukwuemeka U Osondu; Oluseye Ogunmoroti; Alejandro Arrieta; Erica S Spatz; Adnan Younus; Jamal S Rana; Salim S Virani; Ron Blankstein; Michael J Blaha; Emir Veledar; Khurram Nasir Journal: J Am Heart Assoc Date: 2016-09-07 Impact factor: 5.501
Authors: Eamon Y Duffy; Pranoti G Hiremath; Pablo Martinez-Amezcua; Richard Safeer; Jennifer A Schrack; Michael J Blaha; Erin D Michos; Roger S Blumenthal; Seth S Martin; Miguel Cainzos-Achirica Journal: Am J Prev Cardiol Date: 2020-12-08
Authors: Luís E Pavillard; Diego Cañadas-Lozano; Elísabet Alcocer-Gómez; Fabiola Marín-Aguilar; Sheila Pereira; Avril A B Robertson; Jordi Muntané; Bernhard Ryffel; Matthew A Cooper; José L Quiles; Pedro Bullón; Jesús Ruiz-Cabello; Mario D Cordero Journal: Oncotarget Date: 2017-09-08