Social support and change in vascular risk factors in patients with clinical manifestations of vascular diseases.

Background And Aims: Vascular risk can be reduced by adequate medical treatment of vascular risk factors and by adopting a healthy lifestyle, a behavioral change that is influenced by social support. We investigated whether social support is associated with change in vascular risk factors in patients with vascular diseases during 1 year.

Methods: 140 patients who had 2 modifiable vascular risk factors participated.

A pilot-study to identify the feasibility of an Internet-based coaching programme for changing the vascular risk profile of high-risk patients.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of a web-based coaching programme for vascular risk factor treatment, to describe the patterns of use and to measure changes in risk factors.

Methods: Patients with a clinical manifestation of arterial disease and Internet access were asked to participate in the nurse-led Internet-based risk factor management programme. At the first clinic visit, a personalized action plan was made for the treatment of risk factors.

The role of self-efficacy in vascular risk factor management: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Given the large number of patients at high risk of vascular events, new strategies are needed to reduce vascular risk. We investigated whether self-efficacy promotion could change self-efficacy levels in patients with vascular diseases and whether baseline self-efficacy and changes in self-efficacy were related to changes in vascular risk factors.

Methods: One hundred fifty-three recently referred patients with symptomatic vascular diseases (cerebrovascular, abdominal, or peripheral arterial) participated in a randomized trial investigating the effect of nursing care, as compared with usual care, on vascular risk factors.

Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis and the risk of new vascular events in patients with manifest arterial disease: the SMART study.

Background And Purpose: The frequency of asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis (CAS) increases with age from 0.5% in individuals below 50 years of age to 5% to 10% in individuals over 65 years of age in the general population. Its prognostic value has been examined in the general population but less often in patients with clinical manifestations of arterial disease other than retinal or cerebral ischemia.

The course of vascular risk factors and the occurrence of vascular events in patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease.

Background: Previous studies have documented an undertreatment of vascular risk factors, and patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are at increased risk of recurrent vascular events. We examined which baseline variables are related to future vascular events, investigated the course of vascular risk factors, and compared the number of vascular risk factors at baseline and at follow-up to determine whether risk factor management could be further improved.

Methods: This study involved 461 patients with Fontaine classification II to IV who were enrolled in the SMART study (Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease) from September 1996 to December 2000.

A randomized, controlled trial for risk factor reduction in patients with symptomatic vascular disease: the multidisciplinary Vascular Prevention by Nurses Study (VENUS).

Background: Patients with manifest vascular disease are at high risk of a new vascular event or death. Modification of classical risk factors is often not successful. We determined whether the extra care of a nurse practitioner could be beneficial to the cardiovascular risk profile of high-risk patients.

Screening for asymptomatic cardiovascular disease with noninvasive imaging in patients at high-risk and low-risk according to the European Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: the SMART study.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of atherosclerotic risk factors and to investigate the added value of noninvasive imaging in detecting asymptomatic cardiovascular diseases in patients at low risk and high risk according to the European Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Prevention.

Methods: In the vascular screening program of the University Medical Center Utrecht, patients aged 18 to 79 years who had recently received a diagnosis of manifest vascular disease (coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, or peripheral arterial disease [PAD]) or had a risk factor (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, or diabetes mellitus) were assessed for atherosclerotic risk factors and (other) arterial diseases by noninvasive means. The European guidelines were applied to quantify the number of high-risk patients.