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Life-style intervention at the worksite - reduction of cardiovascular risk factors in a randomized study

Nilsson, Peter M. LU ; Klasson, Eva-Birgitta and Nyberg, Per LU (2001) In Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health 27(1). p.57-62
Abstract
Objectives This study tested a feasible method for screening for cardiovascular risk at the worksite and investigated the effects of a long-term comprehensive program of life style intervention to prevent cardiovascular disease. Methods Employees in the public sector filled out a self-administered questionnaire with questions on social, medical, and work-related factors. The respondents numbered 454 (80%). A score sum for cardiovascular risk was calculated (range 1-20, median 7.0), and the 128 subjects with a sum above 8 were invited to a health examination including blood sampling. Thereafter the subjects were invited to participate, following randomization, in a comprehensive, 18-month, life-style intervention program to improve... (More)
Objectives This study tested a feasible method for screening for cardiovascular risk at the worksite and investigated the effects of a long-term comprehensive program of life style intervention to prevent cardiovascular disease. Methods Employees in the public sector filled out a self-administered questionnaire with questions on social, medical, and work-related factors. The respondents numbered 454 (80%). A score sum for cardiovascular risk was calculated (range 1-20, median 7.0), and the 128 subjects with a sum above 8 were invited to a health examination including blood sampling. Thereafter the subjects were invited to participate, following randomization, in a comprehensive, 18-month, life-style intervention program to improve cardiovascular risk or in a control group. Results The intervention group significantly decreased body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and smoking habits during the intervention. The initially elevated serum cortisol, as a marker of stress reaction, normalized in the intervention group. In the control group LDL cholesterol also decreased, but the glucose and triglyceride levels increased, and smoking habits were unchanged. Sick days for a given period decreased after 1 year in the intervention group but not in the control group. Conclusions Several cardiovascular risk factors can be improved and morning serum cortisol normalized during a long-term life-style intervention program with a randomized design using a worksite population of middle-aged subjects. The use of a 2-step screening program, with an initial questionnaire followed by a health check of subjects with elevated risk, is feasible for worksite settings. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
intervention, lipids, risk factor, screening, smoking, workplace
in
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
volume
27
issue
1
pages
57 - 62
publisher
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
external identifiers
  • wos:000167416200008
  • scopus:0035093745
ISSN
0355-3140
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Division of Nursing (Closed 2012) (013065000)
id
0a11e71f-7f30-48e7-ac01-ab6ff41269c6 (old id 1119454)
alternative location
http://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=587
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:26:58
date last changed
2024-02-14 13:35:37
@article{0a11e71f-7f30-48e7-ac01-ab6ff41269c6,
  abstract     = {{Objectives This study tested a feasible method for screening for cardiovascular risk at the worksite and investigated the effects of a long-term comprehensive program of life style intervention to prevent cardiovascular disease. Methods Employees in the public sector filled out a self-administered questionnaire with questions on social, medical, and work-related factors. The respondents numbered 454 (80%). A score sum for cardiovascular risk was calculated (range 1-20, median 7.0), and the 128 subjects with a sum above 8 were invited to a health examination including blood sampling. Thereafter the subjects were invited to participate, following randomization, in a comprehensive, 18-month, life-style intervention program to improve cardiovascular risk or in a control group. Results The intervention group significantly decreased body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and smoking habits during the intervention. The initially elevated serum cortisol, as a marker of stress reaction, normalized in the intervention group. In the control group LDL cholesterol also decreased, but the glucose and triglyceride levels increased, and smoking habits were unchanged. Sick days for a given period decreased after 1 year in the intervention group but not in the control group. Conclusions Several cardiovascular risk factors can be improved and morning serum cortisol normalized during a long-term life-style intervention program with a randomized design using a worksite population of middle-aged subjects. The use of a 2-step screening program, with an initial questionnaire followed by a health check of subjects with elevated risk, is feasible for worksite settings.}},
  author       = {{Nilsson, Peter M. and Klasson, Eva-Birgitta and Nyberg, Per}},
  issn         = {{0355-3140}},
  keywords     = {{intervention; lipids; risk factor; screening; smoking; workplace}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{57--62}},
  publisher    = {{Finnish Institute of Occupational Health}},
  series       = {{Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health}},
  title        = {{Life-style intervention at the worksite - reduction of cardiovascular risk factors in a randomized study}},
  url          = {{http://www.sjweh.fi/show_abstract.php?abstract_id=587}},
  volume       = {{27}},
  year         = {{2001}},
}