Galway families feel the benefits after signing up for preventative healthcare programme, writes LORNA SIGGINS
MORE THAN half the participants in a preventative healthcare programme in the west have quit smoking, so halving their risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
“Significant” weight loss was also achieved, equating to a 20 per cent reduction in risk, according to results published yesterday by heart and stroke charity Croí.
Dietary changes have also reduced the likelihood of cancer and death by 10 per cent, these changes being based on a Mediterranean “cardio-protective” eating programme.
The results of the Croí MyAction programme, run by the charity with support from Imperial College, London, were presented to Labour Party presidential candidate Michael D Higgins in Galway yesterday.
The programme was based on Euro Action, the largest ever prevention study in Europe, and aimed at preventing death or disability from heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity.
Almost 800 people across 500 families throughout Galway city and county are benefiting from the project, according to Croí. The initial 16-week programme which participants engaged in two years ago was maintained afterwards, showing that “the intervention works”, Croí said.
It said the quit-smoking rate on the programme was 56 per cent, which equates to a 50 per cent reduction in CVD “events”. The programme achieved “massive changes in physical activity levels, ranging from an initial 9 per cent of participants achieving recommended exercise targets to 62 per cent now taking exercise at the recommended level of intensity”, said Croí.
This exercise dimension can equate to a 30 per cent reduction in CVD events, it said.
Significant changes were also achieved in reducing blood pressure and cholesterol levels, to the point where participants reduced their heart disease risk by 20 per cent and their stroke risk by 35 per cent.
Anxiety and depression levels also fell, and this demonstrates the “positive effect that a healthy lifestyle has on quality of life and reducing anxiety and depression”, said Croí.
“Taken together, these results show that the changes that have been achieved over the past two years have a measurable impact in reducing illness, disability and death,” Croí chief executive Neil Johnson said.
“Equally, these behaviour changes are literally changing people’s lives. They show that prevention and early intervention works, is worthwhile and is cost effective in terms of reducing the burden on the healthcare system.”
The nurse-led preventative CVD programme is the first of its kind in Ireland, according to Mr Johnson. It incorporated “many of the important principles and recommendations of the national cardiovascular health policy”, he said.