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Predictors of successful, self-reported lifestyle changes in a defined middle-aged population: The Söderåkra Cardiovascular Risk Factor Study, Sweden

Primary Health Care Centre, Söderåkra, Kalmar County Council, Kalmar, Sweden, ullape{at}ltkalmar.se, Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

Carl Johan Östgren

Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

Lars Brudin

Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden

Ingvar Ovhed

Blekinge Institute for R&D, Karlshamn, Sweden

Peter M. Nilsson

Department of Clinical Sciences Medicine, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden

Aims: It is well established that the main cause of the development of cardiovascular disease can be found in unhealthy lifestyle habits. In our study, we wanted to explore the long-term predictors of self-reported lifestyle changes in a middle-aged population after screening for cardiovascular risk factors 10 years earlier. Methods: We conducted a 10-year follow-up telephone interview on self-reported lifestyle changes in a rural population in south-eastern Sweden, after a cardiovascular screening programme. The population comprised 90% of all inhabitants (n=705) aged 40—59 years at baseline, and 90% of these (n=629) were reached for the telephone interview. Results: When multivariate logistic regression was used, a higher success rate for lifestyle changes was independently associated with female gender (odds ratio (OR)=1.56, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11—2.18). When stratified for gender, significant predictors for success in men were prevalent cardiovascular risk conditions (OR=4.77, 95% CI 2.18—10.5; p<0.001) and previous myocardial infarction (OR=22.8, 95% CI 4.73—110; p<0.001) at baseline. For women, elevated blood pressure (160 and/or 90 mmHg) measured at baseline (OR=1.84, 95% CI 1.12—3.02; p=0.016) was significantly associated with successful lifestyle changes. Smoking at baseline was also associated with significant success: OR=3.36 (95% CI:2.05—5.51; p<0.001) and OR=1.81 (95% CI 1.11—2.95; p=0.017) for men and women, respectively. Conclusions: Female gender was associated with significant improvements in self-reported lifestyle changes. Furthermore, smoking, a medical history of diabetes, hypertension, angina pectoris or myocardial infarction at baseline predicted success in lifestyle change in this 10-year follow-up study.

Key Words: Cardiovascular • lifestyle change • population-based • risk factors

Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, Vol. 36, No. 4, 389-396 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1403494808089561


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