Adherence to an Exercise and Healthy Diet Program in Patients With Coronary Heart Disease Aged ≥ 60 Years

University Medicine Greifswald37 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of the study is to implement a multimodal lifestyle intervention over 3 months in individuals ≥ 60 years of age with coronary heart disease and to examine the adherence to this intervention program. The intervention focus on three main themes: physical activity, healthy nutrition and, if necessary, smoking. The framework is formed by a psychological component: views on ageing.

Long-term adherence to a healthy lifestyle that promotes heart health (e.g. physical activity, healthy diet, non-smoking) is not yet sufficiently achieved in patients with coronary artery disease (≥ 60 years). Individuals in this study will participate in a 3-month multimodal intervention program. The program includes group and individual sessions with a focus on exercise training and healthy nutrition. Positive views on ageing have been shown to be associated with a healthier lifestyle. Therefore, it seems important to consider views on ageing as part of a lifestyle intervention. The intervention program starts with a group session containing information on (i) views on ageing and its association to lifestyle and (ii) how to cope with the diagnosis of coronary heart disease in everyday life.The physical exercise training and nutrition intervention will be carried out at least twice a week for at least 60 minutes each and for a period of 3 months. During this time, participants will receive instructions to exercise regularly and adjust their nutrition according to the recommendations. The physical exercise training and nutritional recommendations should be implemented at home. Study participants who smoke tobacco will be motivated to participate in a smoking cessation program. If they are not willing to do this, short, motivating interviews on smoking cessation will be offered. A pilot study will be conducted using a pre-post design. Patients will be followed over time and data will be collected on anthropometrics, blood samples, cardiopulmonary exercise tests, and 7-day accelerometry at baseline and at 3- and 12-month follow-ups.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Coronary Heart Disease Risk Reduction Behavior Adherence, Treatment

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 60 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * age of ≥ 60 years * established CVD defined by a stenosis of ≥ 70% of a least one coronary vessel * optimal treatment according to the European Society of Cardiology guidelines (2016) Exclusion Criteria: * heart failure, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \< 40% * implanted cardioverter/defibrillator or pacemaker * recent cardiovascular event ≤ 2 months prior to study inclusion (acute myocardial infarction, resuscitation, re-vascularization, device implantation, or stroke) * planned coronary revascularization * uncontrolled blood pressure (systolic blood pressure of ≥ 200 mmHg) * body mass index ≥ 35 kg/m2 * baseline cardiopulmonary exercise test results precluding safe exercise training (e.g., ischemia or arrhythmias) * no ability to participate in exercise training (e.g., COPD GOLD III-IV, claudication ≥ 2b, or previous disabling stroke) * current mental disorder requiring inpatient treatment * current addictions (excluding tobacco use), florid psychoses, current severe depressive episode (according to ICD-10) * severe cognitive or physical impairment * no serious co-existing diseases (e.g., cancer) with life expectancy \< 1 year * weekly self-reported PA ≥ 150 minutes on a moderate intensity level ≤ 6 months prior to study inclusion

Locations (1)

Department of Preventive Resaerch and Social Medicine, Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald

Greifswald, Germany

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Adherence to a multi-behavioral intervention program

Investigation on (long-term) adherence to a 3-months multi-behavioral intervention program (exploratory); Measures: Documentation list of adherence to supervised physical exercise training program sessions, educational nutrition sessions, and views of ageing sessions.

Time frame: Over 12 weeks (Baseline - 3-months)

Feasibility of a multi-behavioral intervention program

Investigation on the feasibility of the 3-months multi-behavioral intervention program (exploratory); Measures: Views of participants about study quality process (semi-structured interview guide including self-developed items; qualitative and quantitative)

Time frame: Over 12 weeks (Baseline - 3-months)

Secondary Outcomes

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing

Investigation on changes in a parameter of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (VO²max); Measures: standardized measurement of cardiopulmonary exercise testing according to a modified Jones protocol; VO²max in ml O²/min/kg

Time frame: Changes from baseline (vs. 3-months and 12-months follow-up)

Obesity marker

Investigation on changes in an abdominal obesity marker (waist circumference); Measures: standardized measurements of waist circumference in cm

Time frame: Changes from baseline (vs. 3-months and 12-months follow-up)

Physical behavior by self-report

Investigation on changes in physical behavior; Measures: assessement via questionnaire (Swiss Physical Activity Questionnaire, SWISSPAQ; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4414/smw.2013.13752); questionnaire includes 19 activities and 2 open answers for activities not listed. Patients had to specify the frequency (in times per week), duration (in minutes) and intensity (Borg's subjective rating of perceived exertion) of the activities that they performed in a typical week in the previous 2 months. Metric: MET-hours.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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