Impact of a cardiovascular risk control project for South Asians (Khush Dil) on motivation, behaviour, obesity, blood pressure and lipids.

Background: Khush Dil was set up in Edinburgh in 2002 to manage cardiovascular risk factors in South Asians. We assessed its impact in an in-service evaluation.

Methods: Between June 2002 and July 2004, 304 South Asians attended health visitor led screening clinics. Measurements included self-report, anthropometry, blood pressure and blood tests. A total 140 subjects attended follow-up screening (henceforth returnees). The outcomes relate to them.

Results: In most respects, including ethnicity, family history, medical history and motivational stage, returnees were similar to the non-returnees, but were a little older and were more likely to be women. Between baseline and return visits, returnees reported an increased motivational status (those in the action stage of change increased from 12 to 28%) and increased physical activity (e.g. 45% of women reported improvement at follow-up). Returnees had reduced their risk factor profiles at follow-up in a range of risk factors, e.g. reduction in cholesterol (0.19 mmol/l; 95% CL, 0.1-0.37), in diastolic and systolic blood pressures (3.15 and 3.7 mmHg, respectively) and in weight (0.61 kg; 95% CL, 0.22-1.02).

Conclusions: The Khush Dil Project had an impact as indicated by self-report, physical measures and laboratory tests. Such initiatives now need evaluation for cost-effectiveness. Cluster randomized controlled trials warrant consideration.