Lifestyle Intervention for Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Public Health
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of mortality.
• Comprehensive interventional programs can mitigate CVD incidence and complications.
• This study focused on women aged 30+ at moderate to high risk for CVD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare a 3-month lifestyle modification and physical activity intervention against standard care.
• To assess improvements in physical activity and CVD risk factors.
• To evaluate outcomes in women residing in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial was conducted from January to September 2015.
• The intervention group (n=31) received tailored health education, exercise, and diet counseling.
• The control group (n=28) received a single health education session.

Main Results:

• The intervention group showed statistically significant reductions (p < 0.05) in systolic blood pressure (-9.2 mmHg), blood glucose (-45 mg/dL), and Framingham Risk Score (FRS) (-13.6) after three months.
• Linear regression confirmed significant improvement in FRS (p < 0.01).
• Primary outcomes included achieving a 10% or 25% reduction in FRS for moderate or high-risk women, respectively.

Conclusions:

• A personalized lifestyle modification program positively impacted the 10-year cardiovascular Framingham Risk Score in women with moderate-to-high CVD risk.
• The intervention demonstrated significant improvements in key cardiovascular risk factors within a three-month period.
• Community-based lifestyle interventions are effective in managing CVD risk in targeted populations.