title: A survey of coronary risk factors and B-type natriuretic peptide concentrations in cardiac nurses from Europe: do nurses still practice what they preach?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  From a previous survey of cardiac nurses attending a scientific conference, we learned that these nurses adopted a healthier lifestyle than the general population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the overall profile of cardiac risk factors in a similar cohort and determine whether cardiac nurses continue to 'practice what they preach' in this regard. Secondly, we examined the practical value of screening a large cohort of individuals within a short time frame (total of 8 hours screening time) and determined the range of BNP concentrations within a 'healthy' cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on CHD risk factors were collected with a short self-report questionnaire. The sample consisted of 122 cardiac nurses from 19 countries attending a European cardiac nursing conference held in Stockholm. A venous blood sample was collected into a tube containing potassium ETDA. B-type natriuretic peptide was measured on-site with the use of a portable fluorescence immunoassay kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most participants were female (89%). Participants ranged in age from 23 to 60 years with a mean age of 41 (S.D. 9.4). Eleven percent - all female - reported they were current smokers, 27% (34) had a BMI >25 and 27% of the sample stated they did not exercise regularly. Almost half (48%) of the sample reported a family history of CHD. As expected, all BNP-values were within the normal range. There were significant differences in BNP on the basis of sex (P<0.05) and age (P<0.05) and a trend towards increasing BNP concentrations with progressively higher BMI scores (P=0.06).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study reconfirms the likelihood that many cardiac nurses heed their own advice on lifestyle modification to reduce cardiovascular risk and therefore provide a good role model for the promotion of primary and secondary prevention initiatives.
authors.affiliation: Undertaking Nursing Interventions Throughout Europe (UNITE) Research Group, The Netherlands. t.jaarsma@thorax.azg.nl
authors.forename: Tiny
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jaarsma
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Sabina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Geest
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fridlund
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heikkilä
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mårtensson
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moons
authors.forename: Wilma Scholte
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Op Reimer
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Strömberg
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002309:Cardiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D016231:Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain