The overall results for modifiable risk factors suggested improvements in dietary and exercise outcomes but no overall effect on smoking outcomes .
The effectiveness of lifestyle interventions within secondary prevention of coronary heart disease ( CHD ) remains unclear .
This systematic review aim ed to determine their effectiveness and included r and omized controlled trials of lifestyle interventions , in primary care or community setting s , with a minimum follow-up of three months , published since 1990 .
Influence of coronary nursing management follow up on lifestyle after acute myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE : To examine the ability of a secondary prevention programme to improve the lifestyle in myocardial infa rct ion patients aged 50 - 70 years . DESIGN : Habitual physical activity , food habits , and smoking habits were assessed from question naires at admission to hospital and at the one year follow up . Initially , all patients were invited to join an exercise programme and were informed about cardiovascular risk factors . Four weeks after discharge from the hospital , 87 patients were r and omised to follow up at the coronary prevention unit by a special trained nurse ( the intervention group )  , and 81 to follow up by their general practitioners (  the  usual care group ) . After r and omisation , the intervention group was educated about the effects of smoking cessation , dietary management , and regular physical activity . The intervention group also participated in a physical training programme two to three times weekly for 10 - 12 weeks . MAIN RESULTS : 89 % of the patients referred to the intervention group improved their food habits compared with 62 % of the patients referred to the usual care group ( P = 0.008 ) . Furthermore , 50 % of the smokers referred to the intervention group stopped smoking compared to 29 % in the usual care group ( P = 0.09 ) . Changes in physical activity did not differ between the groups . CONCLUSIONS : This secondary prevention programme based on a nurse rehabilitator was successful in improving food habits in patients with acute myocardial infa rct ion . Initiating the smoking cessation programme during the hospital stay followed by repeated counselling during follow up might have improved the results . The exercise programme had no advantage in supporting physical activity compared to usual care
The overall results for modifiable risk factors suggested improvements in dietary and exercise outcomes but no overall effect on smoking outcomes .
The effectiveness of lifestyle interventions within secondary prevention of coronary heart disease ( CHD ) remains unclear .
This systematic review aim ed to determine their effectiveness and included r and omized controlled trials of lifestyle interventions , in primary care or community setting s , with a minimum follow-up of three months , published since 1990 .