OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of multifactorial intervention against cardiovascular risk factors on ultrasound-determined progression of atherosclerosis in healthy middle-aged men. DESIGN:One hundred and forty-nine healthy middle-aged men were assigned to an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). SUBJECTS: The participants had moderately increased risk-factor scores for cardiovascular disease. They were recruited from a health screening programme at the Preventive Medicine Section, Department of Medicine, Lund University, University Hospital, Malmö. During the study period, 32 of the subjects were lost to follow-up, leaving 59 in the IG and 58 in the CG. INTERVENTION: The IG subjects underwent multifactorial intervention for 2 years, the goal being to help them stop smoking and to reduce their blood lipids and blood pressure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intima-media thickness and plaque score in the right carotid artery were ultrasonographically determined initially and after 2 years. Blood lipids and blood pressure were measured at the same time, and in the IG also after 3, 6, 12 and 18 months after entry into the study. RESULTS: At the entry into the study, there were no significant differences in major risk factors or ultrasound variables between IG and CG. Blood lipids and smoking decreased significantly during the 2 years of intervention in the IG, whilst these factors remained unchanged in the CG. Intima-media thickness and plaque scores increased significantly in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: No effects on ultrasound variables could be detected after 2 years of multifactorial intervention. A more aggressive intervention programme, possibly more dependent on pharmacological treatment, may be required to obtain reduced progression or regression of atherosclerosis.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of multifactorial intervention against cardiovascular risk factors on ultrasound-determined progression of atherosclerosis in healthy middle-aged men. DESIGN: One hundred and forty-nine healthy middle-aged men were assigned to an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). SUBJECTS: The participants had moderately increased risk-factor scores for cardiovascular disease. They were recruited from a health screening programme at the Preventive Medicine Section, Department of Medicine, Lund University, University Hospital, Malmö. During the study period, 32 of the subjects were lost to follow-up, leaving 59 in the IG and 58 in the CG. INTERVENTION: The IG subjects underwent multifactorial intervention for 2 years, the goal being to help them stop smoking and to reduce their blood lipids and blood pressure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intima-media thickness and plaque score in the right carotid artery were ultrasonographically determined initially and after 2 years. Blood lipids and blood pressure were measured at the same time, and in the IG also after 3, 6, 12 and 18 months after entry into the study. RESULTS: At the entry into the study, there were no significant differences in major risk factors or ultrasound variables between IG and CG. Blood lipids and smoking decreased significantly during the 2 years of intervention in the IG, whilst these factors remained unchanged in the CG. Intima-media thickness and plaque scores increased significantly in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: No effects on ultrasound variables could be detected after 2 years of multifactorial intervention. A more aggressive intervention programme, possibly more dependent on pharmacological treatment, may be required to obtain reduced progression or regression of atherosclerosis.
Authors: Stefan Puchner; Markus Reiter; Christos Baros; Erich Minar; Johannes Lammer; Robert A Bucek Journal: Neuroradiology Date: 2008-06-12 Impact factor: 2.804