Cardiovascular disease risk reduction: the Massachusetts WISEWOMAN project.
BACKGROUND
This report presents the effectiveness of the Massachusetts Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) Project (MWWP) in reducing the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk of uninsured and underinsured women aged > or =50.


METHODS
Healthcare sites were randomly assigned to an enhanced intervention (EI) or minimum intervention (MI). Women enrolled at all sites received CVD risk factor screening, onsite counseling, education, referral, and follow-up as needed. Women enrolled at EI sites received additional services and specially designed interventions, including one-on-one nutritional and physical activity counseling and group activities, such as walking groups, nutrition classes, and cultural festivals. We report results for 1443 women who attended the initial screening in 10 study sites. Blood pressure, total cholesterol, number of servings of fruits and vegetables, and level of moderate or vigorous physical activity were assessed at baseline and 12-month follow-up screenings. Baseline data were collected between March and June 1996; follow-up data were collected 12 months later.


RESULTS
The comprehensive screenings significantly lowered the overall prevalence of hypertension, resulting in a 7% reduction in high blood pressure among women at the EI sites (p = 0.02) and a 9% reduction at MI sites (p = 0.009). A significantly greater percentage of women became physically active at the EI sites (18%) than at the MI sites (6%) (p = 0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
MWWP is a promising model for providing comprehensive preventive healthcare to uninsured and underinsured women.
Stoddard
Anne M
AM
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, USA.
Palombo
Ruth
R
Troped
Philip J
PJ
Sorensen
Glorian
G
Will
Julie C
JC
D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016387:Women's Health; D014932:Women's Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*