title: Education to a Healthy Lifestyle Improves Symptoms and Cardiovascular Risk Factors - AsuRiesgo Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiovascular diseases are the current leading causes of death and disability globally.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effects of a basic educational program for cardiovascular prevention in an unselected outpatient population.
  
  
  METHODS
  All participants received an educational program to change to a healthy lifestyle. Assessments were conducted at study enrollment and during follow-up. Symptoms, habits, ATP III parameters for metabolic syndrome, and American Heart Association's 2020 parameters of cardiovascular health were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 15,073 participants aged ≥ 18 years entered the study. Data analysis was conducted in 3,009 patients who completed a second assessment. An improvement in weight (from 76.6 ± 15.3 to 76.4 ± 15.3 kg, p = 0.002), dyspnea on exertion NYHA grade II (from 23.4% to 21.0%) and grade III (from 15.8% to 14.0%) and a decrease in the proportion of current active smokers (from 3.6% to 2.9%, p = 0.002) could be documented. The proportion of patients with levels of triglycerides > 150 mg/dL (from 46.3% to 42.4%, p < 0.001) and LDL cholesterol > 100 mg/dL (from 69.3% to 65.5%, p < 0.001) improved. A ≥ 20% improvement of AHA 2020 metrics at the level graded as poor was found for smoking (-21.1%), diet (-29.8%), and cholesterol level (-23.6%). A large dropout as a surrogate indicator for low patient adherence was documented throughout the first 5 visits, 80% between the first and second assessments, 55.6% between the second and third assessments, 43.6% between the third and fourth assessments, and 38% between the fourth and fifth assessments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A simple, basic educational program may improve symptoms and modifiable cardiovascular risk factors, but shows low patient adherence.
authors: Hospital Central, Instituto de Prevision Social, Asuncion, Paraguay.
authors: Graciela
authors: G
authors: Chaves
authors: Hospital Central, Instituto de Prevision Social, Asuncion, Paraguay.
authors: Nidia
authors: N
authors: Britez
authors: Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Munzinger
authors: Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Lorenz
authors: L
authors: Uhlmann
authors: Hospital Central, Instituto de Prevision Social, Asuncion, Paraguay.
authors: Graciela
authors: G
authors: Gonzalez
authors: Hospital Central, Instituto de Prevision Social, Asuncion, Paraguay.
authors: Guillermo
authors: G
authors: Oviedo
authors: Hospital Central, Instituto de Prevision Social, Asuncion, Paraguay.
authors: Victoria
authors: V
authors: Chaparro
authors: Hospital Central, Instituto de Prevision Social, Asuncion, Paraguay.
authors: Oscar
authors: O
authors: Achon
authors: Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Bruckner
authors: Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Meinhard
authors: M
authors: Kieser
authors: Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Hugo A
authors: HA
authors: Katus
authors: Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors: Derliz
authors: D
authors: Mereles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012309:Risk-Taking; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol