scholarly journals Using run charts for cardiovascular disease risk assessments in general practice

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Wells ◽  
Natasha Rafter ◽  
Kyle Eggleton ◽  
Catherine Turner ◽  
Ying Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
General Practice ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
The Mean

Abstract INTRODUCTION Run charts are quality improvement tools. AIM To investigate the feasibility and acceptability of run charts displaying weekly cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessments in general practice and assess their impact on CVD risk assessments. METHODS A controlled non-randomised observational study in nine practices using run charts and nine control practices. We measured the weekly proportion of eligible patients with completed CVD risk assessments for 19 weeks before and after run charts were introduced into intervention practices. A random coefficients model determined changes in CVD risk assessment rates (slope) from pre- to post- intervention by aggregating and comparing intervention and control practices’ mean slopes. We interviewed staff in intervention practices about their use of run charts. RESULTS Seven intervention practices used their run chart; six consistently plotting weekly data for >12 weeks and positioning charts in a highly visible place. Staff reported that charts were easy to use, a visual reminder for ongoing team efforts, and useful for measuring progress. There were no significant differences between study groups: the mean difference in pre- to post-run chart slope in the intervention group was 0.03% more CVD risk assessments per week; for the control group the mean difference was 0.07%. The between group difference was 0.04% per week (95% CI: –0.26 to 0.35, P = 0.77). DISCUSSION Run charts are feasible in everyday general practice and support team processes. There were no differences in CVD risk assessment between the two groups, likely due to national targets driving performance at the time of the study.

scholarly journals A Cultural Dance Program Improves Hypertension Control and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Native Hawaiians: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Keawe'aimoku Kaholokula ◽  
Mele Look ◽  
Tricia Mabellos ◽  
Hyeong Jun Ahn ◽  
So Yung Choi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Native Hawaiians ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Randomized Controlled

Abstract Background Native Hawaiians have higher hypertension (HTN) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) rates than non-Hispanic whites, calling for culturally responsive interventions to close this gap. Purpose We tested the effects of a 6-month behavioral intervention, a cultural dance program based on hula (the customary dance of Hawai'i), for improving blood pressure (BP) and CVD risk among Native Hawaiians with uncontrolled HTN. Methods In a randomized controlled trial, we tested the effects of the hula-based intervention among 263 Native Hawaiians with uncontrolled HTN (systolic ≥ 140 or ≥ 130 mmHg if diabetes) and no CVD at enrollment. All participants received a brief culturally tailored heart health education before random assignment to the hula-based intervention (n = 131) or the education-only waitlist control (n = 132). Intervention received hula lessons and group-based activities for 6 months. Control received only 1-week education through 6 months. Results Intervention yielded greater reductions in systolic (−15.3 mmHg) and diastolic (−6.4 mmHg) BP than control (−11.8 and −2.6 mmHg, respectively) from baseline to 6 months (p < .05). At 6 months, 43% of intervention participants compared to 21% of controls achieved a HTN stage <130/80 mmHg (p < .001). The 10-year CVD risk reduction was two times greater for the intervention group than the control group based on the Framingham Risk Score calculator. All improvements for intervention participants were maintained at 12 months. Conclusions This trial represents one of the few rigorously conducted examinations of an Indigenous practice leveraged for health promotion, with implications for other ethnic populations.

scholarly journals Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Bears and Other Gay Men: A Descriptive Study from Poland

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 1044
Author(s):  
Magdalena Mijas ◽  
Karolina Koziara ◽  
Andrzej Galbarczyk ◽  
Grazyna Jasienska
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Older Age ◽  
Analysis Of Covariance ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Wide Range

A risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is increased by multiple factors including psychosocial stress and health behaviors. Sexual minority men who identify as Bears form a subculture distinguished by characteristics associated with increased CVD risk such as elevated stress and high body weight. However, none of the previous studies comprehensively investigated CVD risk in this population. Our study compared Bears (N = 31) with other gay men (N = 105) across a wide range of CVD risk factors. Logistic regression and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) models were performed to compare both groups concerning behavioral (e.g., physical activity), medical (e.g., self-reported hypertension), and psychosocial (e.g., depressiveness) CVD risk factors. Bears were characterized by older age and higher body mass index (BMI) than the control group. We also observed higher resilience, self-esteem, as well as greater prevalence of self-reported hypertension, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia in Bears. None of these differences remained statistically significant after adjusting for age and, in the case of self-reported diagnosis of diabetes, both age and BMI. Our study demonstrates that Bears are characterized by increased CVD risk associated predominantly with older age and higher BMI. Health promotion interventions addressed to this community should be tailored to Bears’ subcultural norms and should encourage a healthier lifestyle instead of weight loss.

scholarly journals Effect of Hope-oriented group counseling on mental health of infertile women with failed IVF cycles: a randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roya Rahimi ◽  
Shirin Hasanpour ◽  
Mojgan. Mirghafourvand ◽  
Khalil Esmaeilpour
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Group Counseling ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Control Group ◽  
The Mean ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background Considering the prevalence of infertility in the community and the consequences of failure of infertility treatments on women’s mental health, interventions that can control stress, anxiety and depression in infertile women with a history of IVF failure will be very helpful. This study aimed to determine the effects of hope-oriented group counseling on mental health (primary outcome) and quality of life (QoL) (secondary outcome) of women with failed IVF cycles. Method This randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 women with failed IVF cycles visiting Infertility Clinic at Al-Zahra Teaching Hospital of Tabriz- Iran. Participants were allocated to the intervention group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) based on a randomized block design. Hope-oriented group counseling was provided to the intervention group in six 45–60 min sessions (once a week). The control group only received routine care to undergo another IVF cycle. The Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21) and the SF-12 Quality of Life Scale were filled out by interviewing the participants before the intervention and one week and one month after the intervention. After intervention 26 participants in each group were included in the analysis. Results There was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups in the socio-demographic profile of participants (P > 0.05). The post-intervention mean score of stress (adjusted mean difference = − 1.7, 95% confidence interval: − 3.2 to − 0.3, P = 0.018) and depression (adjusted mean difference = − 1.3, 95% confidence interval: − 4.7 to − 1.5, P < 0.001) was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to the control. Although the mean anxiety score was lower in the intervention group compared to the control, the difference between them was not statistically significant (adjusted mean difference = − 1.1, 95% confidence interval: − 2.6 to 0.4, P = 0.153). The mean score of QoL was significantly higher in the intervention group than that of the control group (adjusted mean difference = 6.9, 95% confidence interval: 5.1 to 8.8, P < 0.001). Conclusion Hope-oriented group counseling was effective in reducing stress and depression and improving QoL in women with failed IVF cycles. It is recommended to use this counseling approach, along with other methods, to improve the mental health of women with failed IVF cycles. Trial registration TCT Registration Number: TCTR 20191017003, registered on October 17, 2019.

scholarly journals Feasibility of cardiovascular disease risk assessments in rheumatology outpatient clinics: experiences from the nationwide NOCAR project

RMD Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. e000737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eirik Ikdahl ◽  
Silvia Rollefstad ◽  
Grunde Wibetoe ◽  
Anne Salberg ◽  
Frode Krøll ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Risk Evaluation ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
High Risk Patient ◽  
Risk Assessments ◽  
Joint Diseases ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Rheumatology Outpatient

ObjectiveThe European League Against Rheumatism recommends implementing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessments for patients with inflammatory joint diseases (IJDs) into clinical practice. Our goal was to design a structured programme for CVD risk assessments to be implemented into routine rheumatology outpatient clinic visits.MethodsThe NOrwegian Collaboration on Atherosclerosis in patients with Rheumatic joint diseases (NOCAR) started in April 2014 as a quality assurance project including 11 Norwegian rheumatology clinics. CVD risk factors were recorded by adding lipids to routine laboratory tests, self-reporting of CVD risk factors and blood pressure measurements along with the clinical joint examination. The patients’ CVD risks, calculated by the European CVD risk equation SCORE, were evaluated by the rheumatologist. Patients with high or very high CVD risk were referred to their primary care physician for initiation of CVD preventive measures.ResultsData collection (autumn 2015) showed that five of the NOCAR centres had implemented CVD risk assessments. There were 8789 patients eligible for CVD risk evaluation (rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 4483; ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 1663; psoriatic arthritis (PsA), 1928; unspecified and other forms of spondyloarthropathies (SpA), 715) of whom 41.4 % received a CVD risk assessment (RA, 44.7%; AS, 43.4%; PsA, 36.3%; SpA, 30.6%). Considerable differences existed in the proportions of patients receiving CVD risk evaluations across the NOCAR centres.ConclusionPatients with IJD represent a patient group with a high CVD burden that seldom undergoes CVD risk assessments. The NOCAR project lifted the offer of CVD risk evaluation to over 40% in this high-risk patient population.

scholarly journals Pengaruh Jus Apel Terhadap Penurunan Tekanan Darah pada Lansia Hipertensi di Puskesmas Muara Kaman

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-129
Author(s):  
Siti Khoiroh
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Apple Juice ◽  
Antihypertensive Drugs ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
T Test ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Control Group ◽  
P Value ◽  
The Mean

Background : Hypertension is a condition of high blood pressure in the arteries that lasted continuously for the long term. Hypertension can be overcome in two ways: pharmacology and non-pharmacology. Pharmacology treatment usually use medicine while one of the ways for non-pharmacology treatment is to consumes apple juice.Research Objective : The aim of this research is to know the effect of apple juice on blood pressure decrease in elderly people with hypertension at Muara Kaman Community Health Center.Methods : The design of this research used quasi experimental design (quasi experiment) with pretest posttest control group design. The sample of the research was hypertensive respondents at Muara Kaman Community Health Center as many as 30 respondents were divided into 2 groups, 15 intervention groups and 15 control groups. The sampling technique used purposive sampling. The research instruments were stethoscope and sphygmomanometer, data analysis using t test dependent and t test independent.Results : There were a significant influence between pretest and posttest of apple juice in the intervention group (P value = 0,000; P <0.005). The mean difference in systolic blood pressure in the intervention group and the control group also had significant differences (P value = 0.002; P <0.05), where as the mean difference in diastolic blood pressure in the intervention group and the control group also had significant differences (P value = 0,039; P <0,05).The Conclusions : The results of this research showed that consumes apple juice gives an effect on the blood pressure of hypertensive patients by consumes regularly.The Suggestions : Nurses and the public can use apple juice as one of the ways to handling to hypertension sufferers besides antihypertensive drugs.

scholarly journals Cardiovascular risk assessment: Audit findings from a nurse clinic – a quality improvement initiative

2009 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 226
Author(s):  
Sarah Waldron ◽  
Margaret Horsburgh
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease Risk ◽  
Community Support ◽  
Lipid Lowering ◽  
Quality Improvement Initiative ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Retrospective Audit ◽  
Prescribing Trends

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT: Evidence has shown the effectiveness of risk factor management in reducing mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease (CVD). An audit of a nurse CVD risk assessment programme undertaken between November 2005 and December 2008 in a Northland general practice. METHOD : A retrospective audit of CVD risk assessment with data for the first entry of 621 patients collected exclusively from PREDICT-CVDTM, along with subsequent data collected from 320 of these patients who had a subsequent assessment recorded at an interval ranging from six months to three years (18 month average). RESULTS: Of the eligible population (71%) with an initial CVD risk assessment, 430 (69.2%) had a five year absolute risk less than 15%, with 84 (13.5%) having a risk greater than 15% and having not had a cardiovascular event. Of the patients with a follow-up CVD risk assessment, 34 showed improvement. Medication prescribing for patients with absolute CVD risk greater than 15% increased from 71% to 86% for anti-platelet medication and for lipid lowering medication from 65% to 72% in the audit period. STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVEMENT: The recently available ‘heart health’ trajectory tool will help patients become more aware of risks that are modifiable, together with community support to engage more patients in the nurse CVD prevention programme. Further medication audits to monitor prescribing trends. LESSONS: Patients who showed an improvement in CVD risk had an improvement in one or more modifiable risk factors and became actively involved in making changes to their health. KEYWORDS: Cardiovascular disease risk assessment; nurse clinics; audit

scholarly journals Tools for Assessing Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Underserved Young Adult Populations: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 13305
Author(s):  
Audrey A. Opoku-Acheampong ◽  
Richard R. Rosenkranz ◽  
Koushik Adhikari ◽  
Nancy Muturi ◽  
Cindy Logan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Heart Disease ◽  
Young Adult ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Risk Assessment Tools

Cardiovascular disease (CVD, i.e., disease of the heart and blood vessels) is a major cause of death globally. Current assessment tools use either clinical or non-clinical factors alone or in combination to assess CVD risk. The aim of this review was to critically appraise, compare, and summarize existing non-clinically based tools for assessing CVD risk factors in underserved young adult (18–34-year-old) populations. Two online electronic databases—PubMed and Scopus—were searched to identify existing risk assessment tools, using a combination of CVD-related keywords. The search was limited to articles available in English only and published between January 2008 and January 2019. Of the 10,383 studies initially identified, 67 were eligible. In total, 5 out of the 67 articles assessed CVD risk in underserved young adult populations. A total of 21 distinct CVD risk assessment tools were identified; six of these did not require clinical or laboratory data in their estimation (i.e., non-clinical). The main non-clinically based tools identified were the Heart Disease Fact Questionnaire, the Health Beliefs Related to CVD-Perception measure, the Healthy Eating Opinion Survey, the Perception of Risk of Heart Disease Scale, and the WHO STEPwise approach to chronic disease factor surveillance (i.e., the STEPS instrument).

scholarly journals The FAFA Trial: A Phase 2 Randomized Clinical Trial on the Effect of a Fan Blowing Air on the Face to Relieve Dyspnea in Filipino Patients with Terminal Cancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (01) ◽  
pp. 03-09 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederic Ivan Ting ◽  
Sachiko Estreller ◽  
Heinrik Martin Jude Strebel
Keyword(s):  
Intervention Group ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Terminal Cancer ◽  
Phase 2 ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Phase 2 Trial ◽  
The Mean

Abstract Introduction Fan therapy has been suggested by some studies as one of the nonpharmacological supportive interventions to alleviate breathlessness for dyspneic patients with terminal cancer. Unfortunately, data among Asians are limited and there are currently no published data showing that this intervention works among Filipinos—thus this study. Study Design This study was an open-label, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover Phase 2 trial. The experimental group had a fan blowing air directly to the patient’s face for 5 minutes, and the control group had a fan blowing air to the patient’s legs. Treatment crossover was done after a washout period of 1 hour. The primary outcome, which is dyspnea, was measured subjectively using the Modified Borg Scale (MBS). Differences in the patient’s respiratory rate (RR) and oxygen saturation were also measured. Results A total of 48 patients were enrolled in this trial. The mean age of the patients enrolled was 51 years, and the most common primary tumor was lung cancer (21%). In the control group, results showed that the mean difference before and after intervention in the MBS was 0.15, and the mean difference in RR was 0.25. On the other hand, the intervention group showed a statistically significant decrease in the patient’s dyspnea as evidenced by a mean MBS decrease of 2.79 (p < 0.0001), and a mean RR decrease of 1.88 (p < 0.0001). Conclusion The results of this study reveal that fan on face (FAFA) therapy in terminally ill Filipino cancer patients in addition to the prescribed standard of care can significantly alleviate their level of dyspnea. Thus, FAFA therapy should be considered as an adjunct to standard of care for these patients.

scholarly journals Effects of a Yoga Program in Reducing Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Workers of Small Workplaces: A Pilot Test

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 10038
Author(s):  
Won Ju Hwang ◽  
Jin Ah Kim ◽  
Ji Sun Ha
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Job Stress ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cvd Risk Factors ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Experimental Group

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a yoga program provided to workers in small businesses to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors. A nonequivalent control group pre/post-test design was used. The experimental group (n = 31) was assigned a yoga program consisting of yoga postures designed for meditation, strengthening, stretching, and balancing, given twice weekly for 12 weeks. The control group (n = 38) was given no other intervention. The mean age was 48.1 years old in the experimental group and 47.7 years old in the control group. Three trained investigators collected the questionnaires and one month after completing the 12-week yoga program, the same questionnaires that were administered at baseline were again administered. Psychosocial variables (depressive symptoms and job stress), health promotion behaviors, and body measurements (weight and waist circumference) were measured for the program evaluation. The yoga program was effective in improving waist circumference (from 81.8 to 79.2, p < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (from 81.0 to 79.1, p = 0.004) as compared to the control group. Furthermore, the experimental group’s job stress score decreased from 1.38 to 1.02, but it was not statistically significant (p = 0.240). A yoga program could be a useful intervention for workers with CVD risk factors, but it was not effective in psychological factors such as job stress and depression. A long-term intervention approach is important to confirm the psychosocial effect. Therefore, future research is needed to investigate the long-term outcomes of such interventions.

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