Researchers in Norrbotten and Umeå establish: Exercise training in the primary care setting reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease remains as one of the most common causes of death in Sweden today. A significant percentage of the population maintain a heightened risk for heart attack and stroke due to high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, large waistlines and decreased physical activity levels. Finish and American studies have found that resource demanding intensive programmes to change dietary and exercise habits over a long time period result have relevant improvements. It had been previously uncertain if such programmes can be applied in a daily primary healthcare setting.

The research group displayed in the journal Public Library of Science ONE, under the leadership of university lecturer Mats Eliasson, Dept. of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, and Sunderby Hospital, Luleå, that a group-based programme for improvements in dietary habits and increased physical activity resulted in lasting improvements in several vital risk factors. The study was carried out at the Björknäs primary health care centre in Boden, Sweden, in which middle-aged patients at moderate- to high risk of cardiovascular disease were offered a three-month intensive lifestyle intervention programme followed up by regular group meetings during three years. The 151 men and women were randomly assigned to either a group with supervised exercise sessions and dietary counselling or to a control group that was given general advice about diet and exercise and received standard clinical care.

Physiotherapist and doctoral candidate Margareta Eriksson, at the Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, reports from a three-year follow-up period that waist circumference decreased with 2.2 cm, systolic blood pressure (the higher value) was significantly lower at 4.9 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure decreased 1.6 mm and aerobic fitness level improved 5 per cent in comparison with the control group. The participants in the treatment group reported statistically significant improvements in both exercise training sessions and total physical activity..

The results of the study displayed that it is possible in Swedish primary care to obtain significant improvements to reverse the risk of cardiovascular diseases through group training and follow-up examinations led by trained physiotherapists. Blood pressure levels had the same improvements as via medication usage. Also participating in the study was University lecturer Paul Franks, Dept. of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University.

For more information, contact Margareta Eriksson, Physiotherapist at Björknäs Health Clinic, Boden, Sweden via phone: +46-921-66056, mobile: +46-70-6684101 or e-mail: margareta.eriksson@nll.se

Eriksson M, Franks P, Eliasson M. A 3-Year Randomized Trial of Lifestyle Intervention for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction in the Primary Care Setting: The Swedish Björknäs Study. PLoS ONE 2009, http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0005195