title: Translating a heart disease lifestyle intervention into the community: the South Asian Heart Lifestyle Intervention (SAHELI) study; a randomized control trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  South Asians (Asian Indians and Pakistanis) are the second fastest growing ethnic group in the United States (U.S.) and have an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). This pilot study evaluated a culturally-salient, community-based healthy lifestyle intervention to reduce ASCVD risk among South Asians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through an academic-community partnership, medically underserved South Asian immigrants at risk for ASCVD were randomized into the South Asian Heart Lifestyle Intervention (SAHELI) study. The intervention group attended 6 interactive group classes focused on increasing physical activity, healthful diet, weight, and stress management. They also received follow-up telephone support calls. The control group received translated print education materials about ASCVD and healthy behaviors. Primary outcomes were feasibility and initial efficacy, measured as change in moderate/vigorous physical activity and dietary saturated fat intake at 3- and 6-months. Secondary clinical and psychosocial outcomes were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants' (n = 63) average age was 50 (SD = 8) years, 63 % were female, 27 % had less than or equal to a high school education, one-third were limited English proficient, and mean BMI was 30 kg/m2 (SD ± 5). There were no significant differences in change in physical activity or saturated fat intake between the intervention and control group. Compared to the control group, the intervention group showed significant weight loss (-1.5 kg, p-value = 0.04) and had a greater sex-adjusted decrease in hemoglobin A1C (-0.43 %, p-value <0.01) at 6 months. Study retention was 100 %.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study suggests that a culturally-salient, community-based lifestyle intervention was feasible for engaging medically underserved South Asian immigrants and more effective at addressing ASCVD risk factors than print health education materials.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT01647438, Date of Trial Registration: July 19, 2012.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 750 N Lake Shore Drive, 10th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. nkandula@nm.org.|Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, 680 N Lake Shore Drive, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. nkandula@nm.org.
authors.forename: Namratha R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Kandula
authors.affiliation: Department of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 750 N Lake Shore Drive, 10th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. swapna-dave@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Swapna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dave
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, 680 N Lake Shore Drive, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. p-chavez@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Peter John
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: De Chavez
authors.affiliation: Metropolitan Asian Family Services, 7541 N Western Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60645, USA. himalib@umasinc.com.
authors.forename: Himali
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bharucha
authors.affiliation: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA. yasinpatel009@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yasin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 750 N Lake Shore Drive, 10th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. pseguil@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seguil
authors.affiliation: Metropolitan Asian Family Services, 7541 N Western Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60645, USA. santosh1250@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Santosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of General Internal Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 750 N Lake Shore Drive, 10th Floor, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. dwbaker@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, 680 N Lake Shore Drive, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. bspring@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Bonnie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Spring
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Northwestern University, 680 N Lake Shore Drive, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA. siddique@northwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Juned
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siddique
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia / Q000208:ethnology; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D054521:Cultural Competency; D004032:Diet; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D015431:Weight Loss