Frontiers in Endocrinology (Feb 2023)

Lifestyle intervention reduces risk score for cardiovascular mortality in company employees with pre-diabetes or diabetes mellitus – A secondary analysis of the PreFord randomized controlled trial with 3 years of follow-up

  • Christian Brinkmann,
  • Christian Brinkmann,
  • Hannah Hof,
  • Detlef-Bernd Gysan,
  • Christian Albus,
  • Stefanie Millentrup,
  • Birna Bjarnason-Wehrens,
  • Joachim Latsch,
  • Gerd Herold,
  • Karl Wegscheider,
  • Christian Heming,
  • Melchior Seyfarth,
  • Melchior Seyfarth,
  • Hans-Georg Predel

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1106334
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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AimTo evaluate the effects of a multimodal intervention (including exercise training, psychosocial interventions, nutrition coaching, smoking cessation program, medical care) on the health and long-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality risk of company employees with pre-diabetes or diabetes mellitus (DM) at high CVD risk.MethodsIn the PreFord study, German company employees (n=4196) participated in a free-of-charge CVD mortality risk screening at their workplace. Based on their European Society of Cardiology – Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation score (ESC-SCORE), they were subdivided into three risk groups. High-risk patients (ESC-SCORE≥5%) were randomly assigned to a 15-week lifestyle intervention or usual care control group. Data from patients with pre-DM/DM were analyzed intention-to-treat (ITT: n=110 versus n=96) and per protocol (PP: n=60 versus n=52).ResultsBody mass index, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride levels as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure improved through the intervention (ITT, PP: p<0.001). The ESC-SCORE markedly decreased from pre- to post-intervention (ITT, PP: p<0.001). ESC-SCORE changes from baseline differed significantly between the groups, with the intervention group achieving more favorable results in all follow-up visits 6, 12, 24 and 36 months later (at each time point: ITT: p<0.001; PP: p ≤ 0.010).ConclusionThe study demonstrates the feasibility of attracting employees with pre-DM/DM at high CVD mortality risk to participate in a multimodal lifestyle program following a free CVD mortality risk screening at their workplace. The lifestyle intervention used in the PreFord study shows high potential for improving health of company employees with pre-DM/DM in the long term. ISRCTN23536103.

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