Efficacy of a nutritional education program to improve diet in patients attending a cardiac rehabilitation program: outcomes of a one-year follow-up

Abstract

Dietary habits are widely reported to play a primary role in the occurrence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Cardiac rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary intervention that includes nutritional education. Proper nutrition plays an important role in cardiovascular health outcomes and in decreasing morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as highlighted in the literature. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of an educational program to improve the diet of cardiac rehabilitation patients compared to usual treatment. 160 patients with CAD, (124 M, 36 F) were randomized into two groups. Data analysis was conducted on 133 patients (11 % dropped out). All enrolled patients attended two educational seminars about proper nutrition and cardiovascular prevention, and completed a questionnaire about dietary habits (before CAD). The Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated, and basal glycaemia and plasma lipids were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the study (12 months after hospital discharge). The intervention group patients underwent a mid-term evaluation of nutrient intakes, BMI, and received a personalized educational reinforcement by a dietitian. At the end of the study, the intervention group was shown to have significantly reduced their daily caloric intake (reduction of total proteins, total fat, carbohydrate, alcohol), and showed a significant reduction of weight and BMI compared to the control group. Individual nutritional counseling session as a reinforcement of a standard educational program is effective in reducing caloric intake and BMI, which may reduce cardiovascular risk factors in cardiovascular patients.

Cardiac rehabilitation improves the blood plasma properties of cardiac patients

“…7 Hence, physical training has been postulated and employed as an important method of rehabilitation in patients suffering from CVDs. 11 However, comprehensive rehabilitation of CVD patients is multifactoral and includes nutritional education followed by changes in dietary habits and supplementation, 12,13 risk factor education, psychological input, and drug therapies to lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. 14 Exercise training (cardiac rehabilitation [CR]) has been utilized in patients with IHD after myocardial infarction (MI) and other cardiac events, such as percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs), CABG 15 as well as in the elderly.…”

The influence of educational nursing intervention on the eating habits and anthropometric values of people who have undergone coronary surgery

“…[26] Also Ravazi et al (2014) on a three, twelve and twenty four-month follow up study with 580 participants, observed significant improvements in the decrease of BMI (p < .001 in all the evaluation moments), when evaluating the results of two lifestyle change programs (based on changes in eating habits, physical exercise and stress, amongst other things). [27] In the same way, the study previously referenced, conducted by Luisi et al (2015) demonstrated the important role of individualised educational intervention in the reduction of BMI. [19] Reveles (2015) also presented results showing a significant decrease of BMI (p < .012) and WC (p < .027), in the Portuguese study of 24 individuals with acute coronary syndrome who were followed-up on for six months in an educational nursing intervention program, when compared to the group not submitted to the program.…”

“…[27] In the same way, the study previously referenced, conducted by Luisi et al (2015) demonstrated the important role of individualised educational intervention in the reduction of BMI. [19] Reveles (2015) also presented results showing a significant decrease of BMI (p < .012) and WC (p < .027), in the Portuguese study of 24 individuals with acute coronary syndrome who were followed-up on for six months in an educational nursing intervention program, when compared to the group not submitted to the program. [28] The studies presented above show a tendency for significance in the decrease of the anthropometric values, or at least for an improvement of those parameters, which is in accordance with the results that emerge from this study.…”

“…This study showed the important role of an individualised educational intervention focused on dietary habits as an effective complement to a more global program, specifically in the reduction of calorie intake. [19] Furthermore, the revised literature of Cole, Smith, Hart and Cupples (2011) on the effect of interventions that have the objective of changing eating habits for secondary prevention of coronary disease, despite the heterogeneity between trials, suggests improvements in this modifiable risk factor as well as in the decrease of mortality and fatal heart episodes. [20] Lin et al (2009) present a similar research with a sample of 73 participants, developed in Taiwan with the same participant typology.…”

Intervenção nutricional educativa em pacientes submetidos à angioplastia transluminal coronária: ensaio clínico randomizado

“…(Pimentel et al, 2010). Outro estudo sobre a eficácia do programa de educação nutricional mostrou uma redução significante de peso, IMC e glicemia de jejum nas comparações intra-grupo, mas não entre as comparações entre os grupos, após um ano de acompanhamento (Luisi et al, 2015).…”