Background: Lifestyle changes are recommended for coronary heart disease (CHD) patients at risk for heart failure (HF) [ACC/AHA stage B; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)<or=40%]. However, it is not clear whether changes in lifestyle are feasible and beneficial in these patients.
Aim: To investigate the feasibility of intensive lifestyle changes for CHD patients at risk for HF.
Methods: We compared 50 patients (18% female) with angiographically documented LVEF<or=40% (mean=33.4+/-7.3; range: 15-40%) to 186 patients (18% female) with LVEF>40% (mean=58.2+/-9.6; range: 42-87%), who were participants in the Multicenter Lifestyle Demonstration Project (MLDP). All were non-smoking CHD patients. The MLDP was a community-based, insurance-sponsored intervention (low-fat, plant-based diet; exercise; stress management) implemented at 8 sites in the US. Coronary risk factors, lifestyle and quality of life (SF-36) were assessed at baseline, 3 and 12 months.
Results: Regardless of LVEF, patients showed significant improvements (all p<.05) in lifestyle behaviours, body weight, body fat, blood pressure, resting heart rate, total and LDL-cholesterol, exercise capacity, and quality of life by 3 months; most improvements were maintained over 12 months.
Conclusion: CHD patients at risk for heart failure with an LVEF<or=40%, can make changes in lifestyle to achieve similar medical and psychosocial benefit to patients with an LVEF>40%.