The effect of a self-management intervention to reduce vascular risk factors in patients with manifestations of vascular diseases.
BACKGROUND
Self-management can improve health behaviors and influence reduction of vascular risk. We developed a 1-year self-management intervention and investigated its effect on vascular risk factors and quality of life in patients with different vascular diseases.


METHODS
This observational cohort study involved 223 patients (self-management group, n=125; usual care group n=98) with at least two modifiable vascular risk factors.


RESULTS
Patients in the self-management group achieved treatment goals for LDL-cholesterol (difference 13%; 95%CI 1-26) and HDL-cholesterol (difference 9% 95%CI 0-19) significantly more often than did patients in the usual care group. Mean systolic blood pressure decreased significantly by 5mm Hg (95%CI -9 to 0) in the self-management group and mean BMI increased significantly by 0.4 kg/m(2) (95%CI -0.8 to -0.1) in the usual care group. No significant differences were seen in waist circumference, smoking, or triglycerides. General health (RAND36) improved more in the self-management group (by 8 points 95%CI 3-12) than in the usual care group.


CONCLUSIONS
After 1 year, the self-management intervention was more effective than usual care on several important vascular risk factors in patients with vascular diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
This self-management intervention used in a hospital population may be applicable in different care settings.
Sol
Berna G M
BG
Department of Vascular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. B.Sol@umcutrecht.nl
van der Graaf
Yolanda
Y
Brouwer
Beate
B
Hickox
Sophie M C
SM
Visseren
Frank L J
FL
D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012648:Self Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000451:nursing*
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL