For the first time, a research study by physicians with the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF), shows that by aggressively treating all risk factors, younger patients hospitalized with heart disease can reduce their chance of dying by nearly 60 percent.
Dr. Kevin Graham, director of preventive cardiology and principal investigator of the study, presented the findings at a recent annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology. "Heart disease does not have to be a progressive disease," explains Dr. Graham. "We now have proof that you can dramatically reduce your mortality if you choose to address all your cardiac risk factors."
The study followed 2,060 patients age 55 and under who were hospitalized at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis between 1992 and 1998 with symptomatic coronary artery disease. All patients were invited to return to MHI's prevention clinic three months later to participate in a program to treat their risk factors aggressively. About half the patients chose to return. The follow-up sessions, known as Aggressive Multiple Risk Factor Intervention, focused on meeting the goals outlined in the chart below.
The patients who chose to return were followed for about four years. The annual death rates were dramatically different between the group that returned and the group that didn't, showing a reduction in mortality of 57% for those participating in aggressive follow-up.
For more information on the study, please call the Foundation at 612/863-3895.
AGGRESSIVE MULTIPLE RISK FACTOR INTERVENTION
By meeting the following goals, heart patients can reduce their risk of dying prematurely by nearly 60%:
|
|
Definition |
Levels |
What you can do |
| Lower your LDL |
Low-density lipoprotein. Called bad cholesterol because it clings to artery walls, causing blockages. |
Less than 100 milligrams per deciliter |
Eat low-cholesterol food, increase exercise, lose weight and, if necessary, take medication. |
| Lower your triglycerides |
Animal and vegetable fats. Called ugly cholesterol because it is very good at cloggin artieries. |
Less than 150 milligrams per deciliter |
Eat low-cholesterol food, increase exercise, lose weight and, if necessary, take medication. |
| Raise your HDL |
High-density lipoprotein. Called good cholesterol because it helps sweep bad cholesterol from blood streams. |
Men: more than 35 milligrams per deciliter. Women: more than 40 milligrams per deciliter. |
Eat foods low in fat and cholesterol, increase exercise, lose weight and, if necessary, take medication. |
| Follow the appropriate diet |
|
Non-diabetics: triglyceride levels more than 200 mg/dl follow AHA diet. Diabetics: triglyceride levels more than 200 mg/dl follow Mediterranean diet. |
American Heart Association Diet: 30% fat, 50% carbohydrates, 20% protein. Mediterranean Diet:40% fat (half of than monounsaturated), 30% carbohydrates, 30% protein. |
| Exercise |
|
200 minutes a week. |
A nice walk will suffice. |
| Lower homocysteine |
Protein found in the blood |
11 micromoles per liter at baseline and 38 micromoles per liter after drinking a high-protein drink. |
Take folic acid and viatmins B6 and B12. |
| Normal blood sugar |
Protein found in the blood |
11 micromoles per liter at baseline and 38 micromoles per liter after drinking a high-protein drink. |
Take folic acid and viatmins B6 and B12. |
| Stop smoking |
| Consistent blood pressure |
|
Below 140/90 |
Reduce weight by eating a well-balanced, low-fat diet, increase exercise and, if necessary, take medication. |
| Vitamin E |
It's an anti-oxidant that blocks the damage that oxygen does to blood vessel walls. |
Take 800 international units. |
Can be purchased in retail or health stores. |
People with congestive heart failure should receive appropriate therapy. In addition, the researchers recommend that heart patients visit their cardiologists annually and their primary care doctors at least semi-annually.
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