A Prospective Evaluation of Health Services Outcomes and Emerging Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00820313
• Recruitment Status: Unknown
• First Posted: January 12, 2009
• Last Update Posted: January 12, 2009
• Sponsor: Preventive Medicine Research Institute
• Information provided by: Preventive Medicine Research Institute

Study Description

Brief Summary:

The primary aim of the proposed research is to examine the relationship of lifestyle changes to new dietary, biomedical, and cellular parameters among new enrollees entering the "Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease program" at 5 selected sites. Specifically, the investigators will add assessments of emerging cardiac risk factors (e.g., high sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP], fibrinogen, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], small, dense LDL, apolipoprotein B [apoB], apolipoprotein A-I [apo A1], the apoB/apoA1 ratio, homocysteine [Hcy], B-type natriuretic peptide [BNP], oxidized LDL, fasting insulin and waist-to-hip ratio [WHR]), protective and pathogenic dietary markers (e.g., folate, carotenoids, trans fatty acids), and measures of social support and cognitive functioning to the already existing assessment variables in the Multisite Cardiac Lifestyle Intervention Program (MCLIP).

Hypothesis 1: Participation in the lifestyle program will not only be associated with favorable changes in standard coronary risk factors and quality of life, but also with improvements in emerging cardiac risk factors [hsCRP, Hcy, BNP, fibrinogen, Lp(a), small, dense LDL, apoB, apoA1, oxidized LDL, fasting insulin, and abdominal obesity] and psychosocial well-being (i.e., social support, and cognitive functioning).

Hypothesis 2: High intake of emerging protective dietary factors and low intake of emerging pathogenic dietary factors will be associated with improvements in both standard and emerging cardiac risk factors (e.g. Hcy, oxidized LDL).

Hypothesis 3: Degree of adherence to the lifestyle change program will be associated with differential improvement in standard coronary risk factors, emerging risk factors, cellular aging, and psychosocial variables.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Coronary Heart Disease; Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease	Behavioral: Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease	Not Applicable

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 131 participants
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Official Title: Coronary Events, Risk Factors, and Quality of Life in Men and Women Enrolled in Intensive Lifestyle Interventions - A Prospective Evaluation of Health Services Outcomes and Emerging Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers
• Study Start Date: October 2006
• Estimated Primary Completion Date: May 2009
• Estimated Study Completion Date: May 2009

Arms and Interventions

Arm

Intervention/treatment

Lifestyle Intervention; Comprehensive lifestyle intervention for reversal of heart disease

Behavioral: Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease; Exercise: At least 3 hours of aerobic exercise per week, 30 minutes per session. Additionally, patients are asked to perform a minimum of 2 strength training sessions per week. Stress Management: Integrates stretching, relaxation, breathing techniques, meditation and guided imagery. Patients are asked to practice these techniques at least 1 hour per day. Diet: Approximately 10% daily calories from fat, 15% protein and 75% complex carbohydrates (low-fat, whole foods, primarily plant-based). Group Support: Weekly group support sessions provide social support to help patients adhere to and sustain the lifestyle-change program.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease [ Time Frame: Baseline Assessment, 3 month Follow-up Assessment, 12 month Follow-up Assessment ]

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Dietary Intake [ Time Frame: Baseline Assessment, 3 month Follow-up Assessment, 12 month Follow-up Assessment ]

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 21 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Eligible patients included those who had a diagnosis of coronary heart disease (CHD) from their physician or health plan, a diagnosis of diabetes, or at least 3 additional cardiac risk factors.

• A diagnosis of CHD included:

  • having diagnosed CHD based on non-invasive testing such as exercise testing, nuclear imaging, echocardiogram or other test that clearly demonstrates ischemia
  • cardiac catheterization demonstrating CHD
  • eligibility for bypass surgery/PTCA and seeking a clinical alternative
  • coronary bypass surgery
  • PTCA/stent
  • myocardial infarction.
• Type I or Type II diabetics were eligible for the program.
• For a participant to be included as a high-risk factor participant, the participant must have either a family history of premature CHD (1st-degree relative (male<55; female <65) with MI or sudden cardiac death) or be a male aged > 45 or a female aged > 55.

• In addition, there must be at least two additional cardiovascular risk factors, including:

  • current cigarette smoking (within the past 5 years)
  • hypertension: BP > 140/90 mm Hg or on antihypertensive medication,
  • low HDL-C: <35 mg/dl or on medications for lipid therapy
  • elevated apolipoprotein(a): >30 mg/dl or on medications for elevated lipids
  • high total cholesterol: > 240 or on medications for elevated lipids
  • high LDL-C: >160 or on medications for elevated lipids
  • high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein: > 3 mg/dl and < 10 mg/dl
  • obesity: BMI > 30
  • Insulin Resistant State (Metabolic Syndrome X

Exclusion Criteria:

• Exclusion criteria included:

  • ischemic left main CHD, with an obstruction greater than 50%
  • significant (>70%) proximal left anterior descending artery disease and proximal left circumflex artery disease and an ejection fraction less than 50%, *unstable angina
  • hypotensive response to exercise (> 20mm Hg drop in systolic BP)
  • history of exercise induced ventricular tachycardia or 3rd degree heart block without evidence of current stability
  • CABG surgery within 4 weeks, unless approved by medical director
  • MI within one month, unless approved by medical director\
  • HF, with functional limitation and unresponsive to medications
  • current tobacco user not concurrently enrolled in a smoking cessation program with 2-month history of smoking cessation
  • uncontrolled malignant ventricular arrhythmia despite medications and/or implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD), unless approved by medical director, resides beyond a one-hour commute to the Program site, unless approved by Team, *history of substance abuse disorder (inc. ETOH) without documentation of a minimum one year of abstinence
  • history of a significant psychiatric disorder without documentation of minimum one-year stability
  • impaired cognitive function, such as dementia or delirium
  • English language literacy unless Program site can accommodate
  • non-ambulatory
  • uncooperative spouse or life partner, defined as obstructive in attitude or behavior
  • the patient is deemed to be potentially disruptive to group setting by the screening team.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

United States, California

Preventive Medicine Research Institute

Sausalito, California, United States, 94965

Sponsors and Collaborators

Preventive Medicine Research Institute

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Edward Kersh, MD, FACC; St. Luke's Hospital/California Pacific Cardiovascular Medical Group, Inc
• Principal Investigator: Dean Ornish, MD; Preventive Medicine Research Institute
• Principal Investigator: Gerdi Weidner, PhD; Preventive Medicine Research Institute
• Study Director: Nita Chainani-Wu, DMD, MS, PhD; Preventive Medicine Research Institute

More Information

Additional Information:

Preventive Medicine Research Institute website homepage 

Publications:

Govil SR, Weidner G, Merritt-Worden T, Ornish D. Socioeconomic status and improvements in lifestyle, coronary risk factors, and quality of life: the Multisite Cardiac Lifestyle Intervention Program. Am J Public Health. 2009 Jul;99(7):1263-70. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2007.132852. Epub 2008 Oct 15.

Pischke CR, Scherwitz L, Weidner G, Ornish D. Long-term effects of lifestyle changes on well-being and cardiac variables among coronary heart disease patients. Health Psychol. 2008 Sep;27(5):584-92. doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.27.5.584.

Schulz U, Pischke CR, Weidner G, Daubenmier J, Elliot-Eller M, Scherwitz L, Bullinger M, Ornish D. Social support group attendance is related to blood pressure, health behaviours, and quality of life in the Multicenter Lifestyle Demonstration Project. Psychol Health Med. 2008 Aug;13(4):423-37. doi: 10.1080/13548500701660442.

Frattaroli J, Weidner G, Merritt-Worden TA, Frenda S, Ornish D. Angina pectoris and atherosclerotic risk factors in the multisite cardiac lifestyle intervention program. Am J Cardiol. 2008 Apr 1;101(7):911-8. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2007.11.039. Epub 2008 Jan 28.

Pischke CR, Weidner G, Elliott-Eller M, Ornish D. Lifestyle changes and clinical profile in coronary heart disease patients with an ejection fraction of <or=40% or >40% in the Multicenter Lifestyle Demonstration Project. Eur J Heart Fail. 2007 Sep;9(9):928-34. doi: 10.1016/j.ejheart.2007.05.009. Epub 2007 Jun 14.

Daubenmier JJ, Weidner G, Sumner MD, Mendell N, Merritt-Worden T, Studley J, Ornish D. The contribution of changes in diet, exercise, and stress management to changes in coronary risk in women and men in the multisite cardiac lifestyle intervention program. Ann Behav Med. 2007 Feb;33(1):57-68. doi: 10.1207/s15324796abm3301_7.

Ornish D, Weidner G, Fair WR, Marlin R, Pettengill EB, Raisin CJ, Dunn-Emke S, Crutchfield L, Jacobs FN, Barnard RJ, Aronson WJ, McCormac P, McKnight DJ, Fein JD, Dnistrian AM, Weinstein J, Ngo TH, Mendell NR, Carroll PR. Intensive lifestyle changes may affect the progression of prostate cancer. J Urol. 2005 Sep;174(3):1065-9; discussion 1069-70. doi: 10.1097/01.ju.0000169487.49018.73.

Ornish D, Scherwitz LW, Billings JH, Brown SE, Gould KL, Merritt TA, Sparler S, Armstrong WT, Ports TA, Kirkeeide RL, Hogeboom C, Brand RJ. Intensive lifestyle changes for reversal of coronary heart disease. JAMA. 1998 Dec 16;280(23):2001-7. doi: 10.1001/jama.280.23.2001. Erratum In: JAMA 1999 Apr 21;281(15):1380.

• Responsible Party: Dean Ornish, MD, Preventive Medicine Research Institute
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00820313
• Other Study ID Numbers: CPMC-26.096SLH; W81XHW-06-1-0565
• First Posted: January 12, 2009
• Last Update Posted: January 12, 2009
• Last Verified: January 2009

Keywords provided by Preventive Medicine Research Institute:

Coronary Heart Disease; Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Disease; Health Related Quality of Life; Diabetes; Diet

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Cardiovascular Diseases; Heart Diseases; Coronary Disease; Coronary Artery Disease; Myocardial Ischemia; Vascular Diseases; Arteriosclerosis; Arterial Occlusive Diseases