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Family Heart Health Program: Randomized, Controlled Trial
Sponsor: Ottawa Heart Institute Research Corporation
Summary
Background: Family members (spouses, siblings, offspring) of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) may themselves be at increased risk for developing CHD for genetic, biochemical and/or behavioural reasons. Targeted approaches aimed at family members of those with established CHD may be a cost-effective way to identify high-risk persons and link them to effective risk factor modification. During pilot testing we found 29% of family members of patients recently hospitalized at our institution had ≥ 3 CHD risk factors. Encouragingly, they indicated high levels of "readiness" to change underlying risk behaviours such as cigarette smoking and physical inactivity. We have developed a 12-week family heart health program featuring a personal plan for achieving risk factor goals and weekly contact with a heart health educator. This intervention needs to be fully tested. Research Aims: In this study, we will: 1. Compare the effects of a targeted family heart health (FHH) screening, counselling and follow-up program versus usual care (UC) for reducing participants total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein (TC/HDL) ratio 52 weeks after program entry, in family members of patients recently hospitalized with CHD; 2. Compare the effects of the FHH program versus UC on modifiable components comprising the Framingham score, including: smoking status; systolic blood pressure; total cholesterol; and high density lipoprotein cholesterol; 3. Compare the effects of the FHH program versus UC on: lifestyle-related factors (dietary patterns, leisure time exercise, body composition); medication use (anti-lipemic medications, anti-hypertensive medications, pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation); and use of healthcare resources (physician visits, hospitalization days, number of laboratory and diagnostic tests and procedures).
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
20 Years - 80 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
426
Start Date
2007-09
Completion Date
2011-09
Last Updated
2026-06-30
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
12-week risk reduction program, managed by a Heart Health Educator
The educator and participant will negotiate a personal plan for achieving the goals through lifestyle change (i.e. smoking cessation, increased exercise, improved nutrition) and, if necessary, pharmacotherapy coordinated by the participant's personal physician. Educational modules have been developed to address specific lifestyle issues including smoking cessation, healthy eating, exercise, and weight management, and will be provided to participants as required. A summary of the risk factor profile and personal plan will be incorporated into a report for the participant's personal physician as well. Participants will also receive telephone-based motivational counseling sessions for 12 weeks to address specific lifestyle issues.
Locations (1)
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada