Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Intervention Research Articles

Abstract P458: Negative Mood is Associated With Sociobehavioral Factors Contributing to Cardiovascular Risk in an Immigrant Population

Introduction: Immigrants to the United States often experience structural barriers to healthy nutrition and physical activity, which increases their risk of developing obesity, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and other chronic conditions. In our prior work with immigrant communities to co-develop interventions to improve nutrition and physical activity, mood was identified as a possible mediating factor. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that self-reported negative mood would be associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors such as poor nutrition and less physical activity. We also evaluated the relationship between mood and sociobehavioral factors such as social support and community belongingness. Methods: The Healthy Immigrant Community (HIC) study, set in Rochester, Minnesota and embedded with the Rochester Healthy Community Partnership, is a randomized, waitlist-controlled obesity and CVD risk reduction intervention. Community-based mentoring and education for health behaviors are delivered by trained health promoters, who are members of the immigrant populations, to their social networks. Baseline self-reported and biometric measures assessed nutrition, physical activity, self-efficacy, and sociobehavioral effects on healthy lifestyle behaviors. On a single-item rating of mood over the past 7 days, responses of poor or fair were considered “negative”, while good, very good, or excellent were considered “positive”. Results: The HIC study enrolled 475 adult participants; 268 Hispanic/Latino and 181 Somali participants completed baseline measures and were included in this analysis. Of the 449 participants, 107 (24%) reported “negative” mood. This group was more likely to be Hispanic/Latino (74%), female (68%), uninsured in the past 12 months (46%), or younger age (mean = 41 years; range = 18-79). Participants who endorsed negative mood at baseline had lower healthy nutrition scores ( p =0.02), lower physical activity scores ( p =0.03), and less confidence in eating healthily ( p =0.001). Those reporting negative mood also reported less support from family and friends to eat healthy ( p =<0.001) and be physically active ( p =0.01), accessed community resources for healthy eating ( p =0.001) and physical activity ( p =<0.01) less often, and reported less sense of belonging to their community ( p =0.01) than those with positive mood. Conclusion: Negative mood was significantly associated with eating a less healthy diet and being sedentary, lower confidence in maintaining a healthy diet, less perceived social support for healthy behaviors, and less sense of belonging to the community among Hispanic/Latino and Somali immigrants. Behavioral interventions designed to support a healthy lifestyle may benefit from incorporating culturally-aligned mood management and sociobehavioral strategies to reduce CVD risk and promote health equity in immigrant populations.

A Community-Engaged Process for Adapting a Cardiovascular Health Intervention for Persons with Serious Mental Illness

Introduction People with serious mental illness experience grave disparities in cardiovascular disease risk factors. To promote scale-up of effective cardiovascular disease risk reduction interventions from clinical trials, it is important to involve end-users in adapting interventions to fit the needs of community-based settings. Objective We describe a novel, theory-informed process of garnering community input to adapt IDEAL Goals, an evidence-based intervention for improving cardiovascular disease risk factors in persons with serious mental illness. Setting Outpatient community mental health programs in Maryland and Michigan implementing behavioral health homes, which provide enhanced support to people living with both physical and mental illnesses. Participants Clinicians, frontline staff, and administrators from community mental health organizations and persons with serious mental illness. Methods Our approach to community engagement is based on the Replicating Effective Programs (REP) framework. During the REP preimplementation phase, we used 2 community engagement activities: (1) a “needs assessment” to identify anticipated implementation barriers and facilitators, and (2) “community working groups” to collaboratively engage with end-users in adapting the intervention and implementation strategies. Main Findings We used the Stakeholder Engagement Reporting Questionnaire to describe our processes for conducting a needs assessment, involving site-level surveys (N=26) and individual interviews (N=94), and convening a series of community working groups with clinicians and staff (mean, 24 per meeting) and persons with serious mental illness (mean, 8 per meeting). Conclusions By specifying the nature and extent of our community engagement activities, we aim to contribute to the evidence base of how to better integrate and measure community-engaged processes in the adaptation of evidence-based interventions.

Abstract 17390: The Impact of The Covid-19 Pandemic on Perceived Stress in Rural Caregivers Participating in a Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Intervention

Introduction: Interventions to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are key for improving the health and well-being of rural caregivers who are often referred to as invisible patients. The Rural Intervention for Caregivers’ Heart Health (RICHH), a CVD risk reduction intervention (2017-2022) included a stress management module. The COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) had an unknown impact on this intervention on perceived stress. The aim of this study was to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic moderated the effects of RICHH on perceived stress for rural caregivers. Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial of a CVD risk reduction intervention that promoted self-care. Caregivers were randomized to usual care or the RICHH intervention. Data were collected at baseline, 4 and 12 months. Participants were grouped into two groups by COVID-19 timing: 1) the pre-pandemic group (n=145) completed the study before the pandemic; and 2) the pandemic group (n=114) completed the study during the pandemic. A piecewise linear mixed-effect model was used to evaluate the impact of the intervention and COVID-19 timing on perceived stress (Cohen’s Perceived Stress Scale). Results: The effect of the intervention on perceived stress in 259 participants (mean age = 55 ± 13 years, 78% female, 95% white, and 73 % married) was significant in the pandemic group (β= -.59, SE = .14, P < .001) but not in the pre-pandemic group (β = -.10, SE = .13, P = .45 [Figure1). The differences in perceived stress changes between the pre-COVID and during-COVID groups was significant, indicating a moderating effect of COVID (β = -.50, SE = .19, P = .009). Conclusion: The RICHH intervention helped to mitigate stress during the COVID-19 pandemic among those in the intervention group at the 4 months, however this effect was not sustained at 12 months. It remains unclear if the reduction in perceived stress during the pandemic was due to participation in the intervention or weekly contact with an interventionist.

Health Literacy and Perceived Control: Intermediary Factors in the Relationship Between Race and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Incarcerated Men in the United States.

Black race, inadequate health literacy, and poor perceived control are predictors of increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among race, health literacy, perceived control, and CVD risk while controlling for known risk factors in incarcerated men. We included data from 349 incarcerated men to examine race and CVD risk (Framingham Risk Score) using a serial mediation model with health literacy and perceived control using 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from 5000 bootstrap samples. Of the participants (age, 36 ± 10; education, 12 ± 2; body mass index, 28.3 ± 5.0), 64.2% were White and 35.8% were Black. Black incarcerated men were younger (P = .047) with lower levels of health literacy (P < .001). All 3 indirect effects of race on CVD were significant, whereas the direct effect of race was not. Black incarcerated men had higher levels of CVD risk through health literacy (a1b1 = 0.3571; 95% CI, 0.0948-0.7162) and lower levels of CVD risk through perceived control (a2b2 = -0.1855; 95% CI, -0.4388 to -0.0077). Black incarcerated men had higher levels of CVD risk through health literacy influenced by perceived control (a1b2d21 = 0.0627; 95% CI, 0.0028-0.1409), indicating that despite the protective effect of higher levels of perceived control in Black incarcerated men, CVD risk remained higher compared with their White counterparts. Future CVD risk reduction interventions in incarcerated men, specifically Black incarcerated men, should include goals of improving health literacy and perceived control as modifiable risk factors.

Improvements in dietary intake, behaviors, and psychosocial measures in a community-randomized cardiovascular disease risk reduction intervention: Strong Hearts, Healthy Communities 2.0

BackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence has disproportionately risen among midlife and older female adults of rural communities, partly due to poor diet and diet-related behaviors and psychosocial factors that impede healthy eating. ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the impact of Strong Hearts Healthy Communities 2.0 (SHHC-2.0) on secondary diet-related outcomes between intervention and control participants that align with the dietary goal and behavioral aims of the SHHC-2.0, a CVD risk reduction program. MethodsA community-randomized controlled trial was conducted in rural, medically underserved communities. Participants were female adults ≥40 y who were classified as obese or both overweight and sedentary. Communities were randomized to SHHC-2.0 intervention (n = 5 communities; n = 87 participants) or control (with delayed intervention) (n = 6 communities; n = 95 participants). SHHC-2.0 consisted of 24 wk of twice-weekly experiential nutrition education and group-based physical activity classes led by local health educators. Changes between baseline and end point (24 wk) in dietary intake (24-h recalls), dietary behaviors (e.g., Rapid Eating Assessment for Participants-Short Version [REAP-S] scores) and diet-related psychosocial measures (e.g., Three Factor Eating questionnaire) between groups were analyzed using linear mixed-effects multilevel models. ResultsAt 24 wk, participants from the 5 intervention communities, compared with controls, consumed fewer calories (mean difference [MD]= −211 kcal, 95% CI: −412, −110, P = 0.039), improved overall dietary patterns measured by REAP-S scores (MD: 3.9; 95% CI: 2.26, 5.6; P < 0.001), and improved psychosocial measures (healthy eating attitudes, uncontrolled eating, cognitive restraint, and emotional eating). ConclusionsSHHC-2.0 has strong potential to improve diet patterns and diet-related psychosocial wellbeing consistent with improved cardiovascular health.This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03059472.

Designing Practical Motivational Interviewing Training for Mental Health Practitioners Implementing Behavioral Lifestyle Interventions: Protocol for 3 Pilot Intervention Studies

Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based, patient-centered communication method shown to be effective in helping persons with serious mental illness (SMI) to improve health behaviors. In clinical trials where study staff conducted lifestyle interventions incorporating an MI approach, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk profiles of participants with SMI showed improvement. Given the disproportionate burden of CVD in this population, practitioners who provide somatic and mental health care to persons with SMI are ideally positioned to deliver patient-centered CVD risk reduction interventions. However, the time for MI training (traditionally 16-24 hours), follow-up feedback, and the coaching required to develop and maintain patient-centered skills are significant barriers to incorporating MI when scaling up these evidence-based practices. We describe the design and development of the following 2 scalable MI training approaches for community mental health practitioners: real-time brief workshops and follow-up asynchronous avatar training. These approaches are being used in 3 different pilot implementation research projects that address weight loss, smoking cessation, and CVD risk reduction in people with SMI who are a part of ALACRITY Center, a research-to-practice translation center funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. Clinicians and staff in community mental health clinics across Maryland were trained to deliver 3 distinct evidence-based physical health lifestyle interventions using an MI approach to persons with SMI. The real-time brief MI workshop training for ACHIEVE-D weight loss coaches was 4 hours; IMPACT smoking cessation counselors received 2-hour workshops and prescribers received 1-hour workshops; and RHYTHM CVD risk reduction program staff received 4 hours of MI. All workshop trainings occurred over videoconference. The asynchronous avatar training includes 1 common didactic instructional module for the 3 projects and 1 conversation simulation unique to each study's target behavior. Avatar training is accessible on a commercial website. We plan to assess practitioners' attitudes and beliefs about MI and evaluate the impact of the 2 MI training approaches on their MI skills 3, 6, and 12 months after training using the MI Treatment Integrity 4.2.1 coding tool and the data generated by the avatar-automated scoring system. The ALACRITY Center was funded in August 2018. We have implemented the MI training for 126 practitioners who are currently delivering the 3 implementation projects. We expect the studies to be complete in May 2023. This study will contribute to knowledge about the effect of brief real-time training augmented with avatar skills practice on clinician MI skills. If MI Treatment Integrity scoring shows it to be effective, brief videoconference trainings supplemented with avatar skills practice could be used to train busy community mental health practitioners to use an MI approach when implementing physical health interventions. DERR1-10.2196/44830.

Application of the consolidated framework for implementation research to understand implementation context of a cardiovascular disease risk-reduction intervention in rural churches.

Rural populations in the USA face higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality relative to non-rural and often lack access to health-promoting evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to support CVD prevention and management. Partnerships with faith organizations offer promise for translating preventative EBIs in rural communities; however, studies demonstrating effective translation of EBIs in these settings are limited. We used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and a multiple case study approach to understand the role of internal organizational context within 12 rural churches in the implementation of a 12-week CVD risk-reduction intervention followed by a 24-month maintenance program implemented in southernmost Illinois. The study involved qualitative analysis of key informant interviews collected before (n = 26) and after (n = 15) the intervention and monthly implementation reports (n = 238) from participating churches using a deductive analysis approach based on the CFIR. Internal context across participating churches varied around organizational climate and culture in four thematic areas: (i) religious basis for health promotion, (ii) history of health activities within the church, (iii) perceived need for the intervention, and (iv) church leader engagement. Faith organizations may be ideal partners in rural health promotion research but may vary in their interest and capacity to collaborate. Identifying contextual factors within community organizations is a first step to facilitating rural, community-based EBI implementation and outcomes.

Abstract 12620: Effects of Financial Status on Engagement in Self-care in Rural Caregivers With Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Introduction: Caring for adults with chronic illnesses increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Engaging in self-care of healthy behaviors is critical for caregivers, but it may be more difficult due to financial hardship and psychological distress among those living in socioeconomically distressed rural areas. The study's purpose was to examine the association of financial status with engagement in self-care and whether this association is mediated by depressive symptoms in rural caregivers. Methods: We used baseline data from 300 rural caregivers (mean age 55 years, 76% female) with at least 2 CVD risk factors participating in a CVD risk reduction intervention trial. They provided data on financial status (3 groups: more than enough, enough, and not enough to make ends meet), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire), self-care engagement (MOS-Specific Adherence Scale), caregiving time/difficulty (Oberst Caregiving Burden Scale), and physical assessments for estimating Framingham CVD risk score. Mediation analysis with a multi-categorical antecedent was conducted controlling Framingham risk score and caregiving time/difficulty. Results: Those with more than enough (27%), enough (56%), and not enough (56%) to make ends meet had similar Framingham risk scores (M = 12.3, P = .61). Compared to the more than enough group (Figure 1), the not enough group had lower self-care engagement scores (direct effect = -6.48) that were reduced further by the influence of depressive symptoms (indirect effect = -1.19). The results were similar for the enough to make ends meet group (direct effect= - 2.67; indirect effect = -.70). Conclusion: Poor financial status was directly associated with decreased engagement in self-care and indirectly associated through increased depressive symptoms. Promoting self-care strategies should include managing depressive symptoms for rural caregivers with a high risk of CVD who report financial hardship.

Abstract 15094: Inflammatory Genotype-Phenotype Interaction Moderates Response to a Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Intervention in Rural Adults at-Risk for Cardiovascular Disease

Introduction: Systemic inflammation and inflammatory genotypes have been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, with associations between C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of systemic inflammation, the rs1205 polymorphism on the CRP gene, and CVD risk among the most well-studied. However, little is known about the effect of systemic inflammation and associated genotypes on response to CVD risk reducing interventions. The purpose of this study was to examine whether high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) moderated the association between rs1205 genotype and response to a CVD lifestyle-focused risk-reduction intervention. Methods: Participants were 400 rural adults with 2+ CVD risk factors participating in the HeartHealth in Rural Kentucky study. At baseline, we measured serum hsCRP and genotyped participants for the rs1205 polymorphism. Genotypes were categorized as CC or CT/TT. Response to the HeartHealth intervention was estimated by the pre-to-post intervention percent change in Framingham Risk Score (FRS). A moderation analysis with subsequent floodlight analysis was conducted using PROCESS macro for SPSS. Analyses were adjusted for body mass index, education, financial status, marital status, and insurance status. Results: Participants were aged 51.2±13.3 years and predominantly female (73.6%). The rs1205 genotype’s effect on FRS change was moderated by hsCRP (p=.004). Subsequent floodlight analysis revealed that rs1205 genotype had a larger effect on FRS change among those with lower (&lt;0.54 mg/L; p=.05) and higher (&gt;7.67 mg/L; p=.05) hsCRP as compared to those with hsCRP ranging from 0.54-7.67 mg/L (p &gt;.05). Among those with lower hsCRP, those with the CC genotype had a larger decrease in FRS than those with CT/TT genotypes. Among those with high hsCRP, those with the CT/TT genotypes experienced a larger decrease in FRS to those with the CC genotype. Conclusion: Findings suggest that inflammatory phenotype moderates the relationship between inflammatory genotype and response to a CVD risk reduction intervention. This highlights the need to examine additional inflammatory markers and inflammatory genotypes to determine the impact of inflammation and genetics on responsiveness to CVD risk reduction interventions.

Perceptions of an eHealth family-based cardiovascular disease risk reduction intervention: a mixed methods study

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): Department for the Economy, Northern Ireland Introduction Controllable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors are often initiated in the family home, yet risk reduction is seldom targeted toward families. Participatory design of eHealth interventions with end-users has potential to increase acceptability and adherence of such interventions. Despite their shared risk of developing CVD, few eHealth interventions target both parents and children at CVD risk. Therein lies an evidence gap; the need for coproduction of a family-based eHealth intervention aimed at early CVD prevention. Purpose The aim of this study was to identify the perceptions of families towards the design, functionality and acceptability of an eHealth, family-based, CVD prevention intervention. Methods Thee online focus groups comprising six families were conducted between April and May 2021. Families consisted of at least one parent who met CVD risk factor criteria, and at least one child aged five to 17 years. Content analysis and narrative synthesis were used to identify categories and subcategories regarding development of and engagement with the proposed intervention. Additionally, quantitative, and demographic measures were used to determine psychosocial and health profiles. Results Three categories were identified from the focus groups: 1) previous experiences of using health-related apps or devices 2) expectations of a newly developed eHealth family-based CVD prevention intervention 3) motivators for engagement with the intervention Goal setting, rewards, accountability, adaptability, recording achievements and competition were considered crucial motivators for engagement for both parents and children. Participants welcomed the intervention, and advised they would prefer a free, personalised, easy-to-use, non-time-consuming intervention, with multiple content formats, and additional information available should they seek to access it. Parents conveyed satisfactory general self-efficacy and quality of life, low anxiety and depression and high perceived social support. Conclusions Overall, families were constructive and forthcoming towards the idea of an eHealth, family-based CVD prevention intervention. These findings informed a prototype of a family-based eHealth intervention aimed at early CVD prevention. The prototype is currently being developed with plans for piloting via a randomised controlled trial in the home environment, by families as an early intervention for the prevention of CVD.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Rural Adults: A Pilot Intervention Study Using Registered Nurse/Community Health Worker Teams.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction programs led by a nurse/community health worker team are effective in urban settings. This strategy has not been adequately tested in rural settings. A pilot study was conducted to examine the feasibility of implementing an evidence-based CVD risk reduction intervention adapted to a rural setting and evaluate the potential impact on CVD risk factors and health behaviors. A 2-group, experimental, repeated-measures design was used; participants were randomized to a standard primary care group (n = 30) or an intervention group (n = 30) where a registered nurse/community health worker team delivered self-management strategies in person, by phone, or by videoconferencing. Outcomes were measured at baseline and at 3 and 6 months. A sample of 60 participants was recruited and retained in the study. In-person (46.3%) and telephone (42.3%) meetings were used more than the videoconferencing application (9%). Mean change at 3 months differed significantly between the intervention and control groups for CVD risk (-1.0 [95% confidence interval (CI), -3.1 to 1.1] vs +1.4 [95% CI, -0.4 to 3.3], respectively), total cholesterol (-13.2 [95% CI, -32.1 to 5.7.] vs +21.0 [95% CI, 4.1-38.1], respectively), and low-density lipoprotein (-11.5 [95% CI, -30.8 to 7.7] vs +19.6 [95% CI, 1.9-37.2], respectively). No between-group differences were seen in high-density lipoprotein, blood pressure, or triglycerides. Participants receiving the nurse/community health worker-delivered intervention improved their risk CVD profiles, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein levels at 3 months. A larger study to explore the intervention impact on CVD risk factor disparities experienced by rural populations is warranted.

A Hybrid Implementation-Effectiveness Study of a Community Health Worker-Delivered Intervention to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk in a Rural, Underserved Non-Hispanic Black Population: The CHANGE Study.

PurposeTo evaluate the implementation and effectiveness of the Carolina Heart Alliance Networking for Greater Equity (CHANGE) Program, an adapted evidence-based cardiovascular disease risk reduction intervention delivered by Community Health Workers (CHW) to rural adults.DesignHybrid implementation-effectiveness study with a pre–post design.SettingNorth Carolina Federally Qualified Health Center and local health department in a rural, medically underserved area.SampleParticipants (n = 255) included 87% Non-Hispanic Black with a mean age of 57 years; 84% had diagnosed hypertension, 55% had diabetes, and 65% had hypercholesterolemia.InterventionA CHW-delivered, low-intensity, 4-month behavioral lifestyle intervention promoting a southern-style Mediterranean dietary pattern and physical activity.MeasuresWe measured number and representativeness of participants reached and retained, intervention delivery fidelity, weight, blood pressure, and self-reported dietary and physical activity behaviors.AnalysisPre–post changes at 4 months were analyzed using paired t-tests.ResultsStudy participants completed 90% of planned intervention contacts; 87% were retained. Intervention delivery fidelity measures showed participants receiving a mean of 3.5 counseling visits, 2.7 booster calls, and on average completing 1.7 modules, setting 1.8 goals, and receiving 1.3 referrals per visit. There were significant mean reductions in systolic (−2.5 mmHg, P < .05) and diastolic blood pressure (−2.1 mmHg, P < .01); the proportion of participants with systolic blood pressure <130 increased by 7 % points (P = .05), and diastolic pressure <80 by 9 percentage points (P < .01). Dietary behaviors improved significantly with average weekly servings of nuts increased by .5 serving (P < .0001), and fruits and vegetables by .8 daily serving (P < .0001). Physical activity also increased on average by 45 min./week (P < .001). Weight did not change significantly.ConclusionsThe CHANGE program showed both implementation and program effectiveness and adds to the evidence supporting CHW-delivered lifestyle interventions to reduce CVD risk among rural, Non-Hispanic Black, and medically underserved populations.

A Heart Healthy Intervention Improved Tobacco Screening Rates and Cessation Support in Primary Care Practices.

We examined whether an evidence-based cardiovascular disease risk reduction intervention (Heart Health Now) would improve rates for tobacco cessation screening and counseling in small primary care practices in North Carolina. Heart Health Now was a stepped wedge, stratified, cluster randomized trial for primary care practices that were staffed by 10 or fewer clinicians and had an electronic health record. The Heart Health Now intervention consisted of education tools, onsite practice facilitation for one year, and a practice-specific cardiovascular population management dashboard that included monthly, measure-specific run charts to help guide quality improvement. Our primary outcomes were practice-level rates of tobacco screening and tobacco cessation support-extracted from practices' electronic health records-and measured at pre-intervention and 6 months post-intervention. The 28 practices included in our analyses represented 78,120 patients and 17,687 smokers. Significant change occurred in practices' tobacco screening rates and cessation support rates over time. From pre- to post-intervention, screening rates significantly increased from 82.7 to 96.2% (p < 0.001). Similarly, cessation support rates significantly increased from 44.3 to 50.1% (p = 0.03). Several practice-level factors were associated with improvement including being in an academic health center or faculty practice, having more clinicians, and having a lower percentage of White patients. In conclusion, a multi-component intervention focused on multiple cardiovascular disease risk reduction in multiple small primary care practices successfully improved rates of tobacco screening and cessation support.

Findings and lessons learnt implementing a cardiovascular disease quality improvement program in Australian primary care: a mixed method evaluation

BackgroundThere are discrepancies between evidence-based guidelines for screening and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and implementation in Australian general practice. Quality-improvement (QI) initiatives aim to reduce these gaps. This study evaluated a QI program (QPulse) that focussed on CVD assessment and management.MethodsThis mixed-methods study explored the implementation of guidelines and adoption of a QI program with a CVD risk-reduction intervention in 34 general practices. CVD screening and management were measured pre- and post-intervention. Qualitative analyses examined participants’ Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) goals and in-depth interviews with practice stakeholders focussed on barriers and enablers to the program and were analysed thematically using Normalisation Process Theory (NPT).ResultsPre- and post-intervention data were available from 15 practices (n = 19,562 and n = 20,249, respectively) and in-depth interviews from seven practices. At baseline, 45.0% of patients had their BMI measured and 15.6% had their waist circumference recorded in the past 2 years and blood pressure, lipids and smoking status were measured in 72.5, 61.5 and 65.3% of patients, respectively. Most high-risk patients (57.5%) were not prescribed risk-reducing medications. After the intervention there were no changes in the documentation and prevalence of risk factors, attainment of BP and lipid targets or prescription of CVD risk-reducing medications. However, there was variation in performance across practices with some showing isolated improvements, such as recording waist circumference (0.7-32.2% pre-intervention to 18.5-69.8% post-intervention), BMI and smoking assessment. Challenges to the program included: lack of time, need for technical support, a perceived lack of value for quality improvement work, difficulty disseminating knowledge across the practice team, tensions between the team and clinical staff and a part-time workforce.ConclusionThe barriers associated with this QI program was considerable in Australian GP practices. Findings highlighted they were not able to effectively operationalise the intervention due to numerous factors, ranging from lack of internal capacity and leadership to competing demands and insufficient external support.Trial registrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Reference Number (ACTRN12615000108516), registered 06/02/2015.

Abstract 12044: Predictors of Engagement With a Remotely Delivered Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Intervention

Introduction: Videoconferencing (VC) technology is one approach to increasing access to interventions targeting cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction among rural dwellers, particularly caregivers of those with chronic illnesses. It is important to understand factors affecting engagement with such interventions in order to improve engagement. We examined demographic, clinical, psychological, and technological factors that predicted engagement with VC-based interventions. Method: We used data from the intervention group (n=131) in a randomized controlled trial of a CVD risk reduction intervention. Engagement was defined as the number of interventions or booster sessions (total 26 possible) completed per participant. Depressive symptoms and caregiving stress were measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire and Zarit Burden Interview respectively. Negative binomial regression with backward stepwise regression was used to determine predictors of engagement. Result: Among participants (mean age = 54.83 ± 13.8 years, 79.4% female) the mean engagement rate was 17.08 ± 7.2 sessions. Higher level of depressive symptoms (incidence rate (IR) = 0.98 , p &lt; .05) was associated with decreased engagement. Higher caregiving burden (IR= 1.008, p &lt; .01) and, employment status (working in the home or retired compared to. employment outside the home IR: 1.25, p &lt; .03) were associated with increased engagement. The association between age and engagement rate was dependent on level of technical problems ( IR = 1.02, p &lt; .00 ), and financial status (average vs. low IR = 1.02, p &lt; .02, high vs. low IR = 1.04, p &lt; .00) (Fig. 1). Conclusion: Depressive symptoms, older age in those with low financial status, and working outside the home were associated with low engagement rate with VC-based intervention targeting CVD-risk reduction among rural caregivers. Thus, tailoring such interventions to address these factors is essential in improving engagement in remote interventions.

Abstract 12197: Rural Caregivers With Low Health Literacy Show Greater Improvements in Diet Quality From a Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction Intervention Designed to Address Low Health Literacy Than Those With High Health Literacy

Introduction: Rural caregivers of those with chronic illnesses have higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk than urban caregivers. Diet is a major lifestyle factor that contributes to CVD risk. We conducted a randomized controlled trial of a CVD risk reduction intervention called Rural Intervention for Caregivers’ Heart Health (RICHH), that was designed to promote CVD risk reduction, including healthy eating and that was designed to be accessible to those with low health literacy (HL). We tested the moderating effect of HL on the impact of the intervention on diet quality. Hypothesis: Rural caregivers with low HL would gain equal or greater benefits from the RICHH intervention on diet quality compared to those with high HL. Methods: The newest vital sign (NVS), rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) code ≥4 or living in Appalachian counties, and Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) were used to determine HL, rurality, and diet quality, respectively. The HEI-2015 was computed based on a food frequency questionnaire at baseline and post-intervention. The RICHH intervention was delivered using videoconference technology by nurse interventionists once a week for 12 weeks. A linear mixed effect model was used to evaluate the moderation effect of HL (NVS ≥ 4) on the impact of the intervention on diet quality. Results: A total of 296 rural caregivers (54.5 ± 13.7 years old, 76% female) completed the study. The improvement in HEI-2015 scores was greater in the low HL group than in the high HL group controlling for age and sex (beta estimate = 9.21, SE = 3.31, P = 0.0058). Conclusions: The RICHH intervention was effective in improving diet quality of rural caregivers compared to the control group. In particular, rural caregivers with low HL benefited more from the intervention aimed at increasing diet quality. Thus, addressing low HL could play an important role to improve diet quality and to reduce CVD risk among caregivers residing in rural environment.

The significant places of African American adults and their perceived influence on cardiovascular disease risk behaviors

BackgroundAA living in rural areas of the southeastern U.S. experience a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Neighborhood environmental factors contribute to this disparity and may decrease the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions aimed at preventing CVD. Furthermore, the influence of neighborhood factors on AA CVD risk behaviors (i.e. physical activity) may be obscured by the use of researcher-defined neighborhoods and researcher-defined healthy and unhealthy places. The objective of this study was to elucidate the effects of neighborhood environments on AA CVD risk behaviors among AA adults who recently completed a lifestyle intervention. We specifically sought to identify AA adults’ self-perceived places of significance and their perceptions of how these places impact CVD risk behaviors including diet, physical activity and smoking.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with AA adults (N = 26) living in two rural North Carolina counties (Edgecombe and Nash, North Carolina, USA). Participants were recruited from a community-based behavioral CVD risk reduction intervention. All had at least one risk factor for CVD. Participants identified significant places including where they spent the most time, meaningful places, and healthy and unhealthy places on local maps. Using these maps as a reference, participants described the impact of each location on their CVD risk behaviors. Data were transcribed verbatim and coded using NVivo 12.ResultsThe average age of participants was 63 (SD = 10) and 92% were female. Places participants defined as meaningful and places where they spent the most time included churches and relatives’ homes. Healthy places included gyms and parks. Unhealthy places included fast food restaurants and relatives’ homes where unhealthy food was served. Place influenced CVD risk behaviors in multiple ways including through degree of perceived control over the environment, emotional attachment and loneliness, caretaking responsibilities, social pressures and social support.ConclusionsAs we seek to improve cardiovascular interventions for rural AA in the American South, it will be important to further assess the effect of significant places beyond place of residence. Strategies which leverage or modify behavioral influences within person-defined significant places may improve the reach and effectiveness of behavioral lifestyle interventions.

Race matters: cardiovascular disease risk in male US prisoners

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): NIH/National Institute of Nursing Research, 1RC2NR011948 Introduction Approximately 10% of the 2.2 million prisoners in the US have a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and in 2016, 28% of all deaths in custody were attributable to CVD. Black race, inadequate health literacy, and poor perceived control are predictors of increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk, which are prevalent in prisoners. However, little is known about the relationships among race, health literacy, and perceived control in CVD risk for male prisoners. Objective The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships among race, health literacy, perceived control, and CVD risk while controlling for well-known risk factors (education, partner status, and body mass index) in male prisoners. Methods We used baseline data from 349 male prisoners in a biobehavioral CVD risk reduction intervention. Health literacy was measured using the Newest Vital Sign and perceived control by the Control Attitudes Scale- Revised. CVD risk was quantified with the Framingham Risk Score (FRS). Three indirect effects of race on CVD risk were examined using serial mediation model with two sequential mediators (i.e., health literacy and perceived control) and 95% confidence intervals from 5000 bootstrap samples. Results Of the participants (mean age = 36 + 10 years), 64.2% were white and 35.8% were black. Mean education level was 12 years and most (85.8%) were not married or partnered. Mean BMI was 28.3 + 5.0. Mean FRS was 6.63 + 4.90, indicating risk percentages of 2.3 to 13.3% over the next ten years. Black prisoners were younger (35 + 9 versus 37 + 10, p = .047) and had lower levels of health literacy (3.84 + 1.90 versus 4.69 + 1.63, p &amp;lt; .001) than white prisoners. No statistically significant differences in perceived control, education, partner status, or body mass index were noted between races. All three indirect effects of race on CVD were significant while the direct effect of race was not. Compared to white prisoners, black prisoners had higher levels of CVD risk through health literacy (a1b1 = .3571, 95% CI [.0948, .7162]) and lower levels of CVD risk through perceived control (a2b2 = -.1855, 95% CI [-.4388, -.0077]). Black prisoners had higher levels of CVD risk through health literacy influenced by perceived control (a1b2d21 = .0627, 95% CI [.0028, .1409]) indicating that despite the protective effect of higher levels of perceived control in black prisoners, CVD risk remained higher compared to their white counterparts. Conclusion Future CVD risk reduction interventions in prisoners of all races, but specifically black male prisoners, should include goals of improving health literacy and perceived control in addition to the traditional modifiable risk factors often included in biobehavioral interventions.

Does gender moderate the associations of caregiving distress with engagement in healthy behaviors and self-management in rural caregivers?

Abstract Introduction Caregivers are globally vulnerable populations facing a high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) development and mortality. Caregiving distress, defined as caregiver burden, stress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety, may contribute to a lack of engagement in healthy behaviors and self-management. Although gender differences in caregiving distress have been reported, there is limited evidence about whether gender moderates the associations between caregiving distress and engagement in healthy behaviors or self-management in rural caregivers. Purposes To compare gender differences in caregiving distress (i.e., burden, stress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety), and engagement in healthy behaviors and self-management; and to determine whether gender moderates the associations of caregiving distress with engagement in healthy behaviors and self-management. Methods Rural informal caregivers caring for patients with chronic disease and having at least two or more CVD risk factors completed baseline assessment in an ongoing randomized controlled trial of a CVD risk reduction intervention. Caregiving distress was assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview, the Perceived Stress Scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and the Brief Symptom Inventory-Anxiety. Engagement in healthy behaviors and self-management were assessed using the MOS-Specific Adherence Scale and the Patient Activation Measure, respectively. Independent t-tests and multiple regression modeling with the PROCESS macro was used. Results Of the 262 rural caregivers (mean age= 53.7 years; 78% female; 96% white), 55% of the caregivers reported having at least one or more types of CVD. Female caregivers reported significantly higher levels of burden, perceived stress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety than male caregivers, but they experienced similar levels of engagement in healthy behaviors and self-management. High levels of burden (SB=−0.454, P&amp;lt;0.001), stress (SB=−0.456, P&amp;lt;0.001), depressive symptoms (SB=−0.363, P&amp;lt;0.001) and anxiety (SB=−0.365, P&amp;lt;0.001) were significantly associated with low levels of engagement in healthy behaviors, but there were no gender moderation effects on these associations. High levels of burden (SB=−0.334, P&amp;lt;0.001) were significantly associated with poor engagement in self-care, but this association was strong and significantly only for female caregivers. High levels of stress (SB=−0.384, P&amp;lt;0.001) were also significantly associated with poor engagement in self-care for only female caregivers. Although depressive symptoms (SB=−0.325, P&amp;lt;0.001) and anxiety (SB=−0.349, P&amp;lt;0.001) were associated with low levels of self-management, there were no gender effects on these associations. Conclusions Significant gender effects on associations of caregiving distress with self-management suggest the need for designing interventions targeting caregiving burden and stress to reduce caregiving distress for women rural caregivers. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Other. Main funding source(s): National Institutes of Health

Inflammatory Genotype Moderates the Association Between Anxiety and Systemic Inflammation in Adults at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease.

Cardiovascular disease is a significant health problem in the United States, attributed to more than 30% of all deaths annually. Anxiety has been associated with cardiovascular disease risk and is thought to be associated with cardiovascular disease risk through inflammatory pathways. The purposes of this study were to examine the relationship between anxiety and systemic inflammation in individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease and to determine if single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with inflammation moderate this relationship. A secondary analysis was conducted using baseline data from a study investigating the impact of genetics on response to a cardiovascular disease risk reduction intervention. Anxiety was measured using the Brief Symptom Inventory. Protein levels for C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured in serum, and genomic DNA was assayed for SNPs in the C-reactive protein, IL-6, and IL-6R genes. Multiple linear regressions were performed to examine if anxiety predicted inflammation and if SNPs moderated associations. Participants (N = 398) were white, aged 51 ± 13 years, and 73% women. There was a significant interaction between rs4129267 genotype and anxiety (P = .010), with the association significant only for individuals with the CC genotype (b = 0.243, SE = 0.04, P < .001). No moderation effect existed for rs1205 or rs1800797. Anxiety was positively associated with IL-6 protein levels, but moderation analysis indicated that this was significant only for individuals with the rs4129267 CC genotype. This suggests that genotypic differences may exist in anxiety response, placing certain individuals at higher risk for inflammation and, subsequently, cardiovascular disease.