The South Asian Heart Lifestyle Intervention (SAHELI) study to improve cardiovascular risk factors in a community setting: design and methods.
Disseminating and implementing evidence-based, cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention lifestyle interventions in community settings and in ethnic minority populations is a challenge. We describe the design and methods for the South Asian Heart Lifestyle Intervention (SAHELI) study, a pilot study designed to determine the feasibility and initial efficacy of a culturally-targeted, community-based lifestyle intervention to improve physical activity and diet behaviors among medically underserved South Asians (SAs). Participants with at least one CVD risk factor will be randomized to either a lifestyle intervention or a control group. Participants in both groups will be screened in a community setting and receive a primary care referral after randomization. Intervention participants will receive 6weeks of group classes, followed by 12weeks of individual telephone support where they will be encouraged to initiate and maintain a healthy lifestyle goal. Control participants will receive their screening results and monthly mailings on CVD prevention. Primary outcomes will be changes in moderate/vigorous physical activity and saturated fat intake between baseline, 3-, and 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes will be changes in weight, clinical risk factors, primary care visits, self-efficacy, and social support. This study will be one of the first to pilot-test a lifestyle intervention for SAs, one of the fastest growing racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. and one with disparate CVD risk. Results of this pilot study will provide preliminary data about the efficacy of a lifestyle intervention on CVD risk in SAs and inform community-engaged CVD prevention efforts in an increasingly diverse U.S. population.
Department of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 750 N Lake Shore Drive, 10th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Electronic address: nkandula@nmff.org.
Namratha R
NR
Kandula
Yasin
Y
Patel
Swapna
S
Dave
Paola
P
Seguil
Santosh
S
Kumar
David W
DW
Baker
Bonnie
B
Spring
Juned
J
Siddique
D001213:Asian; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010154:Pakistan / Q000208:ethnology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support
D004041:Dietary Fats
Cardiovascular disease prevention; Culture; Lifestyle intervention; Randomized control trial; South Asian