title: The "10 keys" to healthy aging: 24-month follow-up results from an innovative community-based prevention program.
abstract: The purpose of this report was to evaluate a prevention program to reduce risk factors for common diseases among older individuals in a lower income community. This randomized community-based study enrolled older adults into a Brief Education and Counseling Intervention or a Brief Education and Counseling Intervention plus a physical activity and (for those with hypertension) a dietary sodium intervention. Outcomes were collected on 389 adults with a mean age of 73.9 years over 24 months. Adherence to the "10 Keys" improved significantly in the proportion meeting goals for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (+14%), bone mineral density testing (+11%), pneumonia vaccination (+11%), colonoscopy (+14%), and adherence to antihypertensive medication (+9%). This program resulted in significant reductions in key risk factors, increases in immunizations, and adherence to established prevention guidelines over 2 years. Further research is needed to refine the use of community health counselors for translating prevention knowledge into community settings. A major limitation of these studies is the low participation percentage.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Alexandria, VA 22302, USA. Joseph.Robare@fns.usda.gov
authors.forename: Joseph F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Robare
authors.forename: Constance M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bayles
authors.forename: Anne B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Milas
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boudreau
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McTigue
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Lewis H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Kuller
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D015519:Bone Density; D003113:Colonoscopy; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011204:Poverty Areas; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014611:Vaccination