Lessons Learned From 10 Years of Preschool Intervention for Health Promotion: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Implementing a health promotion program for children is a complex endeavor. In this review, we outline the key lessons learned over 10 years of experience in implementing the SI! Program (Salud Integral-Comprehensive Health) for cardiovascular health promotion in preschool settings in 3 countries: Colombia (Bogotá), Spain (Madrid), and the United States (Harlem, New York). By matching rigorous efficacy studies with implementation science, we can help bridge the divide between science and educational practice. Achieving sustained lifestyle changes in preschool children through health promotion programs is likely to require the integration of several factors: 1) multidisciplinary teams; 2) multidimensional educational programs; 3) multilevel interventions; 4) local program coordination and community engagement; and 5) scientific evaluation through randomized controlled trials. Implementation of effective health promotion interventions early in life may induce long-lasting healthy behaviors that could help to curb the cardiovascular disease epidemic.

Sustainability of and Adherence to Preschool Health Promotion Among Children 9 to 13 Years Old.

BACKGROUND: Long-term evaluations of child health promotion programs are required to assess their sustainability and the need for reintervention. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to explore the long-term impact of a preschool health promotion intervention delivered in an urban low-income area of Colombia (phase 1) and to assess the effect of a new community-based intervention (phase 2). METHODS: In phase 1, a cross-sectional analysis of knowledge, attitudes, and habits (KAH) toward a healthy lifestyle and ideal cardiovascular health (ICH) scores of 1,216 children 9 to 13 years old was performed. Of the total, 596 had previously received a preschool health promotion intervention at 3 to 5 years old, whereas the remaining 620 were not previously intervened (intervention-naive group). In phase 2, all children were cluster randomized 1:1 to receive either a 4-month educational intervention (the SI! Program) to instill healthy behaviors in community centers (24 clusters, 616 children) or to control (24 clusters, 600 children). Previously intervened and intervention-naive children were not mixed in the same cluster. The primary outcomes were the change from baseline in KAH and ICH scores. Intervention effects were tested for with linear mixed-effects models. RESULTS: In phase 1, ∼85% of children had nonideal cardiovascular health, and those who previously received a preschool intervention showed a negligible residual effect compared with intervention-naive children. In phase 2, the between-group (control vs. intervention) differences in the change of the overall KAH and ICH scores were 0.92 points (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.28 to 2.13; p = 0.133) and -0.20 points (95% CI: -0.43 to 0.03; p = 0.089), respectively. No booster effect was detected. However, a dose-response effect was observed, with maximal benefit in children attending >75% of the scheduled intervention; the difference in the change of KAH between the high- and low-adherence groups was 3.72 points (95% CI: 1.71 to 5.73; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Although overall significant differences between the intervention and control groups were not observed, high adherence rates to health promotion interventions may improve effectiveness and outcomes in children. Reintervention strategies may be required at multiple stages to induce sustained health promotion effects (Salud Integral Colombia [SI! Colombia II]; NCT03119792).

Grenada Heart Project-Community Health ActioN to EncouraGe healthy BEhaviors (GHP-CHANGE): A randomized control peer group-based lifestyle intervention.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors is increasing globally, with a disproportionate burden in the low and low-middle income countries (L/LMICs). Peer support, as a low-cost lifestyle intervention, has succeeded in managing chronic illness. For global CV risk reduction, limited data exists in LMICs. AIM: The GHP-CHANGE was designed as a community-based randomized trial to test the effectiveness of peer support strategy for CV risk reduction in the island of Grenada, a LMIC. METHODS: We recruited 402 adults from the Grenada Heart Project (GHP) Cohort Study of 2827 subjects with at least two CV risk factors. Subjects were randomized in a 1:1 fashion to a peer-group based intervention group (n = 206) or a self-management control group (n = 196) for 12 months. The primary outcome was the change from baseline in a composite score related to Blood pressure, Exercise, Weight, Alimentation and Tobacco (FBS, Fuster-BEWAT Score), ranging from 0 to 15 (ideal health = 15). Linear mixed-effects models were used to test for intervention effects. RESULTS: Participants mean age was 51.4 years (SD 14.5) years, two-thirds were female, and baseline mean FBS was 8.9 (SD 2.6) and 8.5 (SD 2.6) in the intervention and control group, respectively (P = .152). At post intervention, the mean FBS was higher in the intervention group compared to the control group [9.1 (SD 2.7) vs 8.5 (SD 2.6), P = .028]. When balancing baseline health profile, the between-group difference (intervention vs. control) in the change of FBS was 0.31 points (95% CI: -0.12 to 0.75; P = .154). CONCLUSIONS: The GHP-CHANGE trial showed that a peer-support lifestyle intervention program was feasible; however, it did not demonstrate a significant improvement in the FBS as compared to the control group. Further studies should assess the effects of low-cost lifestyle interventions in LMICs.

Promotion of cardiovascular health in preschool children: 36-month cohort follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Educational interventions in preschool children could improve dietary behavior and physical activity, and prevent unhealthy body weights in low- and middle-income countries. Previously, we have reported the beneficial impact of an educational intervention in preschoolers in a 6-month trial. We now report extended results after 36 months. METHODS: Evaluating the cohort of previously intervened children, baseline measurements were made in May 2009 in 14 preschool facilities in Usaquén (Bogotá, Colombia). Follow-up measurements were performed at 18 and 36 months. The primary outcome was the mean change in children's knowledge and attitudes scores regarding healthy eating and living an active lifestyle, including habits scores related to physical activity. Secondary outcomes were the change over time of children's nutritional status and the mean change in parent's knowledge, attitudes, and habits. RESULTS: We included 1216 children, 3-5 years of age, and 928 parents. After adjusting by sex and age of children, socioeconomic status, age of parents, and age and education level of teachers, we found a significant increase in mean knowledge, attitudes, and habits scores at 36 months, compared with baseline: 87.94 vs 76.15 (P <.001); 86.39 vs 57.03 (P <.001); and 66.29 vs 48.72 (P <.001), respectively. We observed a similar increase in knowledge and attitude scores in parents: 73.45 vs 70.01 (P <.001); and 78.08 vs 74.65 (P <.001). The proportion of eutrophic children increased from 62.1% at baseline to 75.0% at 36 months (P <.0001). CONCLUSIONS: After 36 months, the educational intervention maintained a beneficial trend toward a healthy lifestyle in children and their parents.

Targeting preschool children to promote cardiovascular health: cluster randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: School programs can be effective in modifying knowledge, attitudes, and habits relevant to long-term risk of chronic diseases associated with sedentary lifestyles. As part of a long-term research strategy, we conducted an educational intervention in preschool facilities to assess changes in preschoolers' knowledge, attitudes, and habits toward healthy eating and living an active lifestyle. METHODS: Using a cluster design, we randomly assigned 14 preschool facilities in Bogotá, Colombia to a 5-month educational and playful intervention (7 preschool facilities ) or to usual curriculum (7 preschool facilities ). A total of 1216 children aged 3-5 years, 928 parents, and 120 teachers participated. A structured survey was used at baseline, at the end of the study, and 12 months later to evaluate changes in knowledge, attitudes, and habits. RESULTS: Children in the intervention group showed a 10.9% increase in weighted score, compared with 5.3% in controls. The absolute adjusted difference was 3.90 units (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.64-6.16; P <.001). Among parents, the equivalent statistics were 8.9% and 3.1%, respectively (absolute difference 4.08 units; 95% CI, 2.03 to 6.12; P <.001), and among teachers, 9.4% and 2.5%, respectively (absolute difference 5.36 units; 95% CI, -0.29-11.01; P = .06). In the intervened cohort 1 year after the intervention, children still showed a significant increase in weighted score (absolute difference of 6.38 units; P <.001). CONCLUSIONS: A preschool-based intervention aimed at improving knowledge, attitudes, and habits related to healthy diet and active lifestyle is feasible, efficacious, and sustainable in very young children.

Cardiovascular risk surveillance to develop a nationwide health promotion strategy: the grenada heart project.

OBJECTIVE: The Grenada Heart Project aims to study the clinical, biological, and psychosocial determinants of the cardiovascular health in Grenada in order to develop and implement a nationwide cardiovascular health promotion program. METHODS: We recruited 2,827 adults randomly selected from the national electronic voter list. The main outcome measures were self-reported cardiovascular disease and behavioral risk factors, anthropometric measures, blood pressure, point-of-care testing for glucose and lipids, and ankle-brachial index. Risk factors were also compared with the U.S. National Health and Nutritional Survey data. RESULTS: Prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors were: overweight and obesity-57.7% of the population, physical inactivity-23.4%, diabetes-13.3%, hypertension-29.7%, hypercholesterolemia-8.6%, and smoking-7%. Subjects who were physically active had a significantly lower 10-year Framingham risk score (p<0.001). Compared with the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Survey data, Grenadian women had higher rates of adiposity, diabetes, hypertension, and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, whereas Grenadian men had a higher rate of diabetes, a similar rate of hypertension, and lower rates of the other risk factors. Prevalence of peripheral arterial disease was 7.6%; stroke and coronary heart disease were equally prevalent at ∼2%. CONCLUSIONS: This randomly selected adult sample in Grenada reveals prevalence rates of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes significantly exceeding those seen in the United States. The contrasting, paradoxically low levels of prevalent cardiovascular disease support the concept that Grenada is experiencing an obesity-related "risk transition." These data form the basis for the implementation of a pilot intervention program based on the Institute of Medicine recommendations and may serve as a model for other low- and middle-income countries.