The patient education strategy "learning and coping" improves adherence to cardiac rehabilitation in primary healthcare settings: a pragmatic cluster-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Adherence and completion of programmes in educational and physical exercise sessions is essential in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) to obtain the known benefits on morbidity, mortality, risk factors, lifestyle, and quality of life. The patient education strategy "Learning and Coping" (LC) has been reported to positively impact adherence and completion in a hospital setting. It is unknown if LC has impact on adherence in primary healthcare settings, and whether LC improves self-management. The aim of this pragmatic primary healthcare-based study was to examine whether patients attending CR based on LC had a better adherence to patient education and physical exercise, higher program completion rate, and better self-management compared to patients attending CR based on a consultation program Empowerment, Motivation and Medical Adherence (EMMA). METHOD: A pragmatic cluster-controlled trial of two types of patient education LC and EMMA including ten primary healthcare settings and 514 patients (LC, n = 266; EMMA, n = 248) diagnosed with ischaemic heart disease discharged from hospital and referred to CR between August 1, 2018 and July 31, 2019. Adherence was defined as participation in ≥ 75% of provided sessions. Completion was defined as patients attended the final interview at the end of the 12-weeks programme. Patient Activation Measure (PAM) was used to obtain information on a person's knowledge, skills and confidence for self-management. PAM questionnaire was completed at baseline and 12-weeks follow-up. Multiple and Linear regression analyses adjusted for potential confounder variables and cluster effect were performed. RESULT: Patients who followed CR based on LC had a higher adherence rate to educational and physical exercise sessions compared to patients who followed CR based on EMMA (p < 0.01). High-level of completion was found at the end of CR with no statistically significant between clusters (78.9% vs. 78.2%, p > 0.05). At 12-weeks, there was no statistical differences in PAM-score between clusters (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the LC positively impacts adherence in CR compared to EMMA. We found non-significant difference in completing CR and in patient self-management between the two types of patient education. Future studies are needed to investigate if the higher adherence rate achieved by LC in primary healthcare settings translates into better health outcomes.

Comparison of the clinical presentation across two waves of COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Only a few studies have performed comprehensive comparisons between hospitalized patients from different waves of COVID-19. Thus, we aimed to compare the clinical characteristics and laboratory data of patients admitted to the western part of Denmark during the first and second waves of COVID-19 in 2020. Furthermore, we aimed to identify risk factors for critical COVID-19 disease and to describe the available information on the sources of infection. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of medical records from 311 consecutive hospitalized patients, 157 patients from wave 1 and 154 patients from wave 2. The period from March 7 to June 30, 2020, was considered wave 1, and the period from July 1st to December 31, 2020, was considered wave 2. Data are presented as the total study population, as a comparison between waves 1 and 2, and as a comparison between patients with and without critical COVID-19 disease (nonsurvivors and patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU)). RESULTS: Patients admitted during the first COVID-19 wave experienced a more severe course of disease than patients admitted during wave 2. Admissions to the ICU and fatal disease were significantly higher among patients admitted during wave 1 compared to wave 2. The percentage of patients infected at hospital decreased in wave 2 compared to wave 1, whereas more patients were infected at home during wave 2. We found no significant differences in sociodemographics, lifestyle information, or laboratory data in the comparison of patients from waves 1 and 2. However, age, sex, smoking status, comorbidities, fever, and dyspnea were identified as risk factors for critical COVID-19 disease. Furthermore, we observed significantly increased levels of C-reactive protein and creatinine, and lower hemoglobin levels among patients with critical disease. CONCLUSIONS: At admission, patients were more severely ill during wave 1 than during wave 2, and the outcomes were worse during wave 1. We confirmed previously identified risk factors for critical COVID-19 disease. In addition, we found that most COVID-19 infections were acquired at home.

Traditional and novel cardiometabolic risk markers across strata of body mass index in young adults.

BACKGROUND: Cardiometabolic risk increases with increasing body mass index (BMI). The exact mechanism is poorly understood, and traditional risk assessment of young adults with obesity has shown to be ineffective. Greater knowledge about potential new effective biomarkers and the use of advanced cardiac imaging for risk assessment in young adults is, therefore, necessary. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore traditional and novel cardiometabolic risk markers across strata of BMI in young adults. METHODS: Participants (N = 264, 50% women, age 28-30 years) were invited from an ongoing cohort study, based on BMI and sex. BMI-strata were: BMI <25, 25-30, >30 kg/m2, representing normal weight (NW), overweight (OW), and obesity (OB). Participants underwent cardiac computed tomography to detect coronary artery calcification, measures of body composition, blood pressure measurements, and a comprehensive panel of circulating cardiometabolic risk markers. RESULTS: No significant coronary artery calcifications were detected in this study. Minor differences in median levels of traditional risk markers were detected across BMI-strata, for example, total cholesterol (men- NW: 4.7 (4.3-5.1) and OB: 4.8 (4.2-5.6) mmol/L, p = 0.58; women- NW: 4.3 (3.9-4.8) and OB: 4.7 (4.2-5.3) mmol/L, p = 0.016), whereas substantial differences were seen in markers of inflammation and glucose metabolism, for example, high sensitive CRP (men- NW: 0.6 (0.3-1.1) and OB: 2.8 (1.5-4.0) mg/L, p < 0.001; women- NW: 0.7 (0.3-1.7) and OB: 4.0 (2.2-7.8) mg/L, p < 0.001) and insulin (men- NW: 47.0 (35.0-59.0) and OB: 113.5 (72.0-151.0) pmol/L, p < 0.001; women- NW: 44.0 (35.0-60.0) and OB: 84.5 (60.0-126.0) pmol/L, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In young adults, obesity is associated with an early onset insulin resistance and inflammatory response prior to development of coronary artery calcification and deterioration of lipid profiles.

Diabetes prevention interventions for women after gestational diabetes mellitus: an overview of reviews.

AIMS: To present an overview of reviews of interventions for the prevention of diabetes in women after gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with the overall aim of gaining information in order to establish local interventions. METHODS: Six databases were searched for quantitative, qualitative or mixed-methods systematic reviews. All types of interventions or screening programmes were eligible. The outcomes were effectiveness of reducing diabetes incidence, encouraging healthy behavioural changes and enhancing women's perceptions of their increased risks of developing type 2 diabetes following GDM. RESULTS: Eighteen reviews were included: three on screening programmes and seven on participation and risk perceptions. Interventions promoting physical activity, healthy diet, breastfeeding and antidiabetic medicine reported significantly decreased incidence of postpartum diabetes, up to 34% reduction after any breastfeeding compared to none. Effects were larger if the intervention began early after birth and lasted longer. Participation in screening rose up to 40% with face-to-face recruitment in a GDM healthcare setting. Interventions were mainly based in healthcare settings and involved up to nine health professions, councillors and peer educators, mostly dieticians. Women reported a lack of postpartum care and demonstrated a low knowledge of risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes. Typical barriers to participation were lack of awareness of increased risk and low levels of support from family. CONCLUSIONS: Lifestyle interventions or pharmacological treatment postpartum was effective in decreasing diabetes incidence following GDM. Women's knowledge of the risk of diabetes and importance of physical activity was insufficient. Early face-to-face recruitment increased participation in screening. Programmes aimed at women following a diagnosis of GDM ought to provide professional and social support, promote screening, breastfeeding, knowledge of risk factors, be long-lasting and offered early after birth, preferably by face-to-face recruitment.

Women's perspectives on motivational factors for lifestyle changes after gestational diabetes and implications for diabetes prevention interventions.

INTRODUCTION: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication in pregnancy and constitutes a public health problem due to the risk of developing diabetes and other diseases. Most women face barriers in complying with preventive programs. This study aimed to explore motivational factors for lifestyle changes among women with a history of GDM and their suggestions for preventive programs. METHODS: This study used a qualitative approach in six focus group interviews with a total of 32 women. The selection criteria were time since onset of GDM, including women diagnosed with GDM, six months and five years after GDM, diagnosed and not diagnosed with diabetes. Inductive analysis was performed. RESULTS: The women reacted with anxiety about their GDM diagnosis and experienced persistent concerns about the consequences of GDM. They were highly motivated to take preventive initiatives, but faced major adherence challenges. The demotivating factors were lack of time and resources, too little family involvement, lack of knowledge and social norms that may obstruct healthy eating. A powerful motivational factor for complying with preventive strategies was the well-being of their children and partners. CONCLUSIONS: Preventive initiatives should be rooted in the women's perception of GDM/diabetes and based on their experiences with barriers and motivational factors. The well-being and the quality of life within the family are dominant motivational factors which offer powerful potentials for supporting the women's coping capability. Further, there is a need to be responsiveness to the women and their families even a long time after the onset of GDM.

Incorporating Coronary Calcification Into Pre-Test Assessment of the Likelihood of Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in symptomatic patients referred for diagnostic testing has declined, warranting optimization of individualized diagnostic strategies. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to present a simple, clinically applicable tool enabling estimation of the likelihood of obstructive CAD by combining a pre-test probability (PTP) model (Diamond-Forrester approach using sex, age, and symptoms) with clinical risk factors and coronary artery calcium score (CACS). METHODS: The new tool was developed in a cohort of symptomatic patients (n = 41,177) referred for diagnostic testing. The risk factor-weighted clinical likelihood (RF-CL) was calculated through PTP and risk factors, while the CACS-weighted clinical likelihood (CACS-CL) added CACS. The 2 calculation models were validated in European and North American cohorts (n = 15,411) and compared with a recently updated PTP table. RESULTS: The RF-CL and CACS-CL models predicted the prevalence of obstructive CAD more accurately in the validation cohorts than the PTP model, and markedly increased the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves of obstructive CAD: for the PTP model, 72 (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 71 to 74); for the RF-CL model, 75 (95% CI: 74 to 76); and for the CACS-CL model, 85 (95% CI: 84 to 86). In total, 38% of the patients in the RF-CL group and 54% in the CACS-CL group were categorized as having a low clinical likelihood of CAD, as compared with 11% with the PTP model. CONCLUSIONS: A simple risk factor and CACS-CL tool enables improved prediction and discrimination of patients with suspected obstructive CAD. The tool empowers reclassification of patients to low likelihood of CAD, who need no further testing.

Cost-utility analysis of learning and coping versus standard education in cardiac rehabilitation: a randomised controlled trial with 3 years of follow-up.

Objectives: To enhance adherence to cardiac rehabilitation (CR), a patient education programme called 'learning and coping' (LC-programme) was implemented in three hospitals in Denmark. The aim of this study was to investigate the cost-utility of the LC-programme compared with the standard CR-programme. Methods: 825 patients with ischaemic heart disease or heart failure were randomised to the LC-programme or the standard CR-programme and were followed for 3 years.A societal cost perspective was applied and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) were based on SF-6D measurements. Multiple imputation technique was used to handle missing data on the SF-6D. The statistical analyses were based on means and bootstrapped SEs. Regression framework was employed to estimate the net benefit and to illustrate cost-effectiveness acceptability curves. Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the two programmes in total societal costs (4353 Euros; 95% CI -3828 to 12 533) or in QALY (-0.006; 95% CI -0.053 to 0.042). At a threshold of 40 000 Euros, the LC-programme was found to be cost-effective at 15% probability; however, for patients with heart failure, due to increased cost savings, the probability of cost-effectiveness increased to 91%. Conclusions: While the LC-programme did not appear to be cost-effective in CR, important heterogeneity was noted for subgroups of patients. The LC-programme was demonstrated to increase adherence to the rehabilitation programme and to be cost-effective among patients with heart failure. However, further research is needed to study the dynamic value of heterogeneity due to the small sample size in this subgroup.

A Novel Virtual Coaching System Based on Personalized Clinical Pathways for Rehabilitation of Older Adults-Requirements and Implementation Plan of the vCare Project.

Home-based rehabilitation after an acute episode or following an exacerbation of a chronic disease is often problematic with a clear lack of continuity of care between hospital and home care. Secondary prevention is an essential element of long-term rehabilitation where strategies oriented toward risk reduction, treatment adherence, and optimization of quality of life need to be applied. Frail and sometimes isolated, the patient fails to adhere to the proposed post-discharge clinical pathway due to lack of appropriate clinical, emotional, and informational support. Providing a suitable rehabilitation after an acute episode or a chronic disease is a major issue, as it helps people to live independently and enhance their quality of life. However, as the rehabilitation period usually lasts some months, the continuity of care is often interrupted in the transition from hospital to home. Virtual coaches could help these patients to engage in a personalized rehabilitation program that complies with age-related conditions. These coaches could be a key technology for empowering patients toward increasing their adherence to the care plan and to improve their secondary prevention measures. In this paper, we are presenting a novel virtual coaching system that will address these challenges by combining recent technological advances with clinical pathways, based on joint research and validation activities from researchers from the medical and information and communication technology (ICT) domains.

Effect of the patient education - Learning and Coping strategies - in cardiac rehabilitation on return to work at one year: a randomised controlled trial show (LC-REHAB).

BACKGROUND: Personal resources are identified as important for the ability to return to work (RTW) for patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD) or heart failure (HF) undergoing cardiac rehabilitation (CR). The patient education 'Learning and Coping' (LC) addresses personal resources through a pedagogical approach. This trial aimed to assess effect of adding LC strategies in CR compared to standard CR measured on RTW status at one-year follow-up after CR. METHODS: In an open parallel randomised controlled trial, patients with IHD or HF were block-randomised in a 1:1 ratio to the LC arm (LC plus CR) or the control arm (CR alone) across three Danish hospital units. Eligible patients were aged 18 to ≤60 and had not left the labour market. The intervention was developed from an inductive pedagogical approach consisting of individual interviews and group based teaching by health professionals with experienced patients as co-educators. The control arm consisted of deductive teaching (standard CR). RTW status was derived from the Danish Register for Evaluation of Marginalisation (DREAM). Blinding was not possible. The effect was evaluated by logistic regression analysis and reported as crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The population for the present analysis was N = 244 (LC arm: n = 119 versus control arm: n = 125). No difference in RTW status was found at one year across arms (LC arm: 64.7% versus control arm: 68.8%, adjusted odds ratio OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.43-1.31). CONCLUSION: Addition of LC strategies in CR showed no improvement in RTW at one year follow-up. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01668394. First Posted: August 20, 2012.

Health economic evaluations of patient education interventions a scoping review of the literature.

OBJECTIVES: To provide a comprehensive overview of health economic evaluations of patient education interventions for people living with chronic illness. METHODS: Relevant literature published between 2000 and 2016 has been comprehensively reviewed, with attention paid to variations in study, intervention, and patient characteristics. RESULTS: Of the 4693 titles identified, 56 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this scoping review. Of the studies reviewed, 46 concluded that patient education interventions were beneficial in terms of decreased hospitalization, visits to Emergency Departments or General Practitioners, provide benefits in terms of quality-adjusted life years, and reduce loss of production. Eight studies found no health economic impact of the interventions. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this review strongly suggest that patient education interventions, regardless of study design and time horizon, are an effective tool to cut costs. This is a relatively new area of research, and there is a great need of more research within this field. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: In bringing this evidence together, our hope is that healthcare providers and managers can use this information within a broad decision-making process, as guidance in discussions of care quality and of how to provide appropriate, cost-effective patient education interventions.

The patient education - Learning and Coping Strategies - improves adherence in cardiac rehabilitation (LC-REHAB): A randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Despite proven benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), adherence to CR remains suboptimal. This trial aimed to assess the impact of the patient education 'Learning and Coping Strategies' (LC) on patient adherence to an eight-week CR program. METHODS: 825 patients with ischaemic heart disease or heart failure were open label randomised to either the LC arm (LC plus CR) or the control arm (CR alone) across three hospital units in Denmark. Both arms received same amount of training and education hours. LC consisted of individual clarifying interviews, participation of experienced patients as co-educators, situational, reflective and inductive teaching. The control arm received structured deductive teaching. The primary outcomes were patient adherence to at least 75% of the exercise training or education sessions. We tested for subgroup effects on the primary outcomes using interaction terms. The primary outcomes were compared across arms using logistic regression. RESULTS: More patients in the LC arm adhered to at least 75% of the exercise training sessions than control (80% versus 73%, adjusted odds ratio (OR):1.48; 95% CI:1.07 to 2.05, P=0.018) and 75% of education sessions (79% versus 70%, adjusted OR:1.61, 1.17 to 2.22, P=0.003). Some evidence of larger effects of LC on adherence was seen for patients with heart failure, low education and household income. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of LC strategies improved adherence in rehabilitation both in terms of exercise training and education. Patients with heart failure, low levels of education and household income appear to benefit most from this adherence promoting intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT01668394.

Learning and coping strategies versus standard education in cardiac rehabilitation: a cost-utility analysis alongside a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Learning and coping education strategies (LC) was implemented to enhance patient attendance in the cardiac rehabilitation programme. This study assessed the cost-utility of LC compared to standard education (standard) as part of a rehabilitation programme for patients with ischemic heart disease and heart failure. METHODS: The study was conducted alongside a randomised controlled trial with 825 patients who were allocated to LC or standard rehabilitation and followed for 5 months. The LC approach was identical to the standard approach in terms of physical training and education, but with the addition of individual interviews and weekly team evaluations by professionals. A societal cost perspective including the cost of intervention, health care, informal time and productivity loss was applied. Cost was based on a micro-costing approach for the intervention and national administrative registries for other cost categories. Quality adjusted life years (QALY) were based on SF-6D measurements at baseline, after intervention and follow-up using British preference weights. Multiple imputation was used to handle non-response on the SF-6D. Conventional cost effectiveness methodology was employed to estimate the net benefit of the LC and to illustrate cost effectiveness acceptability curves. The statistical analysis was based on means and bootstrapped standard errors. RESULTS: An additional cost of DKK 6,043 (95% CI -5,697; 17,783) and a QALY gain of 0.005 (95% CI -0.001; 0.012) was estimated for LC. However, better utility scores in both arms were due to higher utility while receiving the intervention than better health after the intervention. The probability that LC would be cost-effective did not exceed 29% for any threshold values of willingness to pay per QALY. The alternative scenario analysis was restricted to a health care perspective and showed that the probability of cost-effectiveness increased to 62% over the threshold values. DISCUSSION: The LC was unlikely to be cost-effective within 5 months of follow-up from a societal perspective, but longer-term follow-up should be evaluated before a definite conclusion is drawn. CONCLUSION: Future research should assess the LC strategies' long-term efficacy and cost-utility. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01668394.

Enhanced external counterpulsation - effect on angina pectoris, QoL and exercise capacity after 1 year.

UNLABELLED: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a new therapy offered to patients with refractory angina pectoris (AP). PURPOSE: To assess the effect of EECP on AP, quality of life (QoL) and exercise capacity in a design starting with a control period to avoid the influence of regression-towards-the-mean. METHODS: Patients were examined two months before EECP, just before, just after, and three and 12 months after EECP. EECP was given for 1 h 5 days a week in 7 weeks. Three sets of pneumatic cuffs were mounted on the lower extremities and inflated sequentially in diastole to 260 mm Hg. RESULTS: 50 patients were included (male 72%, mean age: 62.5 years). Mean daily AP attacks were reduced during EECP from 2.7 to 0.9 (p < 0.005) and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society classification was reduced by at least 1 class in 82% just after EECP, 79% 3 months and 76% 12 months after EECP (p < 0.0002). Generic (SF36) and disease-specific QoL (Seattle AP questionnaire) improved just after, 3 and 12 months after compared with that before EECP. There was a significant improvement in exercise capacity and exercise-induced chest pain just after, three and 12 months after EECP (p < 0.02). No change was detected during the control period. CONCLUSIONS: EECP improves generic and disease-specific QoL, angina intensity and exercise capacity in at least 12 months.

LC-REHAB: randomised trial assessing the effect of a new patient education method--learning and coping strategies--in cardiac rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND: Due to improved treatments and ageing population, many countries now report increasing prevalence in rates of ischemic heart disease and heart failure. Cardiac rehabilitation has potential to reduce morbidity and mortality, but not all patients complete. In light of favourable effects of cardiac rehabilitation it is important to develop patient education methods which can enhance adherence to this effective program. The LC-REHAB study aims to compare the effect of a new patient education strategy in cardiac rehabilitation called 'learning and coping' to that of standard care. Further, this paper aims to describe the theoretical basis and details of this intervention. METHODS/DESIGN: Open parallel randomised controlled trial conducted in three hospital units in Denmark among patients recently discharged with ischemic heart disease or heart failure. Patients are allocated to either the intervention group with learning and coping strategies incorporated into standard care in cardiac rehabilitation or the control group who receive the usual cardiac rehabilitation program. Learning and coping consists of two individual clarifying interviews, participation of experienced patients as educators together with health professionals and theory based, situated and inductive teaching. Usual care in cardiac rehabilitation is characterised by a structured deductive teaching style with use of identical pre-written slides in all hospital units. In both groups, cardiac rehabilitation consists of training three times a week and education once a week over eight weeks. The primary outcomes are adherence to cardiac rehabilitation, morbidity and mortality, while secondary outcomes are quality of life (SF-12, Health education impact questionnaire and Major Depression Inventory) and lifestyle and risk factors (Body Mass Index, waist circumference, blood pressure, exercise work capacity, lipid profile and DXA-scan). Data collection occurs four times; at baseline, at immediate completion of cardiac rehabilitation, and at three months and three years after the finished program. DISCUSSION: It is expected that learning and coping incorporated in cardiac rehabilitation will improve adherence in cardiac rehabilitation and may decrease morbidity and mortality. By describing learning and coping strategies the study aims to provide knowledge that can contribute to an increased transparency in patient education in cardiac rehabilitation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Identifier NCT01668394.