Cardiovascular risk evaluation and antiretroviral therapy effects in an HIV cohort: implications for clinical management: the CREATE 1 study

International audienceAims: To determine the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profile of a large UK HIV cohort and how highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) affects this. Methods: A cross-sectional study within a large inner city Hospital and neighbouring district hospital. 1021 HIV positive outpatients representative of the complete cohort; 990 had no previous CVD. We recorded demographics, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) history and CVD risk factors. CVD and coronary heart disease (CHD) risks were calculated using the Framingham (1991) algorithm adjusted for family history. Results: The non-CVD cohort (n=990) was 74% male, 51% Caucasian and 73.1% were on HAART. Mean age was 41±9 years, systolic blood pressure 120±14mmHg, total cholesterol 4.70±1.05mmol/L, HDL-C 1.32±0.48 mmol/L and 37% smoked. Median CVD risk (n=973) was 4 (0-56)% in men and 1.4(0-37) % in women; CHD risks were 3.5(0-36)% and 0.6(0-16)%. CVD risk was >20% in 6% of men and 1% of women and >10% in 12% of men and 4% of women. CVD risk was higher in Caucasians than other ethnicities; the risk factor contributing most was raised cholesterol. For patients on their first HAART, increased CHD risk (26.2% vs. 6.5%; odds ratio 4.03, p<0.001) was strongly related to duration of therapy. Conclusions: Modifiable risk factors, especially cholesterol, and also duration of HAART, were key determinants of CVD risk. Discussion: Regular CHD and/or CVD risk assessment should be performed on patients with HIV. The effect of different HAART regimens on CHD risk should be considered when selecting therapy. Clinical Trials.gov identifier: NCT010509

"Waste the Waist": The development of an intervention to promote changes in diet and physical activity for people with high cardiovascular risk.

This is the accepted version of the article which has been published in final form in the British Journal of Health Psychology, which can be accessed via the DOI in this record.Objectives. To identify an evidence-based intervention to promote changes in diet and physical activity and adapt it for a UK primary care setting for people with high cardiovascular risk. Design. A three-stage mixed-methods design was used to facilitate a strategic approach to programme selection and adaptation. Method. Stage 1: Criteria for scientific quality and local appropriateness were developed for the selection/adaptation of an intervention to promote lifestyle change in people of high cardiovascular risk through (1) patient interviews, (2) a literature search to extract evidence-based criteria for behavioural interventions, and (3) stakeholder consultation. Stage 2: Potential interventions for adaptation were identified and ranked according to their performance against the criteria developed in Stage 1. Stage 3: Intervention mapping (IM) techniques were used to (1) specify the behavioural objectives that participants would need to reach in order to attain programme outcomes, and (2) adapt the selected intervention to ensure that evidence-based strategies to target all identified behavioural objectives were included. Results. Four of 23 potential interventions identified met the 11 essential criteria agreed by a multi-disciplinary stakeholder committee. Of these, the Greater Green Triangle programme (Laatikainen et al., 2007) was ranked highest and selected for adaptation. The IM process identified 13 additional behaviour change strategies that were used to adapt the intervention for the local context. Conclusions. IM provided a useful set of techniques for the systematic adaptation of an existing lifestyle intervention to a new population and context, and facilitated transparent working processes for a multi-disciplinary team.Department of Healt

"Waste the Waist": The development of an intervention to promote changes in diet and physical activity for people with high cardiovascular risk.

This is the accepted version of the article which has been published in final form in the British Journal of Health Psychology, which can be accessed via the DOI in this record.Objectives. To identify an evidence-based intervention to promote changes in diet and physical activity and adapt it for a UK primary care setting for people with high cardiovascular risk. Design. A three-stage mixed-methods design was used to facilitate a strategic approach to programme selection and adaptation. Method. Stage 1: Criteria for scientific quality and local appropriateness were developed for the selection/adaptation of an intervention to promote lifestyle change in people of high cardiovascular risk through (1) patient interviews, (2) a literature search to extract evidence-based criteria for behavioural interventions, and (3) stakeholder consultation. Stage 2: Potential interventions for adaptation were identified and ranked according to their performance against the criteria developed in Stage 1. Stage 3: Intervention mapping (IM) techniques were used to (1) specify the behavioural objectives that participants would need to reach in order to attain programme outcomes, and (2) adapt the selected intervention to ensure that evidence-based strategies to target all identified behavioural objectives were included. Results. Four of 23 potential interventions identified met the 11 essential criteria agreed by a multi-disciplinary stakeholder committee. Of these, the Greater Green Triangle programme (Laatikainen et al., 2007) was ranked highest and selected for adaptation. The IM process identified 13 additional behaviour change strategies that were used to adapt the intervention for the local context. Conclusions. IM provided a useful set of techniques for the systematic adaptation of an existing lifestyle intervention to a new population and context, and facilitated transparent working processes for a multi-disciplinary team.Department of Healt

Cardiovascular risk among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal smoking male prisoners: inequalities compared to the wider community

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) were collected as part of a randomised controlled trial of a multi-component intervention to reduce smoking among male prisoners. Cross-sectional baseline data on CVRF were compared among smoking male prisoners and males of similar age in the general population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>425 smoking prisoners were recruited (n = 407 in New South Wales; 18 in Queensland), including 15% of Aboriginal descent (mean age 33 years; median sentence length 3.6 years). We measured CVRF such as smoking, physical activity, blood pressure, risky alcohol use, symptoms of depression, and low socioeconomic status.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that 39% of prisoners had 3+ CVRF, compared to 10% in a general community sample of most disadvantaged men of a similar age. Significantly more Aboriginal prisoners had 3+ CVRF than non-Aboriginal prisoners (55% vs 36%, p < 0.01) and were twice as likely to have 4+ CVRF (27% vs 12%). In addition to all prisoners in this study being a current smoker (with 70% smoking 20+ cigarettes per day), the prevalence of other CVRF was very high: insufficient physical activity (23%); hypertension (4%), risky drinking (52%), symptoms of depression (14%) and low socioeconomic status (SES) (44%). Aboriginal prisoners had higher levels of risky alcohol use, symptoms of depression, and were more likely to be of low SES.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Prisoners are at high risk for developing cardiovascular disease compared to even the most disadvantaged in their community and should be the focus of specific public health interventions.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>This trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry <a href="http://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12606000229572.aspx">ACTRN#12606000229572</a>.</p

Genetics and hyperlipidaemia

Hannah is a 30 year old single mother with two young children. She is of Chinese descent and moved to the UK six years ago; she has a good level of English. Recently her mother suffered a heart attack, which prompted Hannah’s first visit to the general practitioner (GP). Meanwhile Hannah performed a predictive genetic test independently through an online company, which showed an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD); she has the ɛ4 variant of the APOE gene. The company has recommended a daily supplement and dietary changes. Blood tests showed raised blood lipids and her GP referred Hannah to a dietitian for lifestyle management. Hannah is very concerned and anxious about her health