Details:

Alternative Title:
Prev Chronic Dis
Personal Author:
Shlay, Judith C. ; Barber, Beverly ; Mickiewicz, Theresa ; Maravi, Moises ; Drisko, Jodi ; ... More +
Shlay, Judith C. ; Barber, Beverly ; Mickiewicz, Theresa ; Maravi, Moises ; Drisko, Jodi ; Estacio, Raymond ; Gutierrez, Gregory ; Urbina, Christopher Less -
Description:
Introduction

Early identification of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is important to reach people in need of treatment. At-risk patients benefit from behavioral counseling in addition to medical therapy. The objective of this study was to determine whether enhanced counseling, using patient navigators trained to counsel patients on CVD risk-reduction strategies and facilitate patient access to community-based lifestyle-change services, reduced CVD risk among at-risk patients in a low-income population.

Methods

We compared clinical characteristics at baseline and 12-month follow-up among 340 intervention and 340 comparison patients from community health centers in Denver, Colorado, between March 2007 and June 2009; all patients had a Framingham risk score (FRS) greater or equal to 10% at baseline. The intervention consisted of patient-centered counseling by bilingual patient navigators. At baseline and at 6-month and 12-month follow-up, we assessed health behaviors of intervention participants. We used an intent-to-treat approach for all analyses and measured significant differences by χ2 and t tests.

Results

We found significant differences in several clinical outcomes. At follow-up, the mean FRS was lower for the intervention group (mean FRS, 15%) than for the comparison group (mean FRS, 16%); total cholesterol was lower for the intervention group (mean total cholesterol, 183 mg/dL) than for the comparison group (mean total cholesterol, 197 mg/dL). Intervention participants reported significant improvements in some health behaviors at 12-month follow-up, especially nutrition-related behaviors. Behaviors related to tobacco use and cessation attempts did not improve.

Conclusion

Patient navigators may provide some benefit in reducing risk of CVD in a similar population.


Subject:
[+]
Adult
Cardiovascular Diseases
Colorado
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Geographic Information Systems
Health Status
Humans
Incidence
Life Style
Male
Middle Aged
Original Research
Risk Assessment
Time Factors

Source:
Prev Chronic Dis. 2011; 8(6).
Document Type:
Journal Article
Collection(s):
Preventing Chronic Disease
Main Document Checksum:
[+]
urn:sha256:fa7bc62c6f2c06d005d750bf53bc25081bf8da203a7dbbc0dc058ae15be2ff28
File Type:

Supporting Files

• 	license.txt	txt
  	PCD86A143.nxml	txt

More +