Implementation of a Brazilian Cardioprotective Nutritional (BALANCE) Program for improvement on quality of diet and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events: A randomized, multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate dietary recommendations represent a key part of secondary prevention in cardiovascular disease (CVD). We evaluated the effectiveness of the implementation of a nutritional program on quality of diet, cardiovascular events, and death in patients with established CVD. METHODS: In this open-label, multicenter trial conducted in 35 sites in Brazil, we randomly assigned (1:1) patients aged 45 years or older to receive either the BALANCE Program (experimental group) or conventional nutrition advice (control group). The BALANCE Program included a unique nutritional education strategy to implement recommendations from guidelines, adapted to the use of affordable and regional foods. Adherence to diet was evaluated by the modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index. The primary end point was a composite of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, stroke, myocardial revascularization, amputation, or hospitalization for unstable angina. Secondary end points included biochemical and anthropometric data, and blood pressure levels. RESULTS: From March 5, 2013, to Abril 7, 2015, a total of 2534 eligible patients were randomly assigned to either the BALANCE Program group (n = 1,266) or the control group (n = 1,268) and were followed up for a median of 3.5 years. In total, 235 (9.3%) participants had been lost to follow-up. After 3 years of follow-up, mean modified Alternative Healthy Eating Index (scale 0-70) was only slightly higher in the BALANCE group versus the control group (26.2 ±â€¯8.4 vs 24.7 ±â€¯8.6, P < .01), mainly due to a 0.5-serving/d greater intake of fruits and of vegetables in the BALANCE group. Primary end point events occurred in 236 participants (18.8%) in the BALANCE group and in 207 participants (16.4%) in the control group (hazard ratio, 1.15; 95% CI 0.95-1.38; P = .15). Secondary end points did not differ between groups after follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: The BALANCE Program only slightly improved adherence to a healthy diet in patients with established CVD and had no significant effect on the incidence of cardiovascular events or death.

Effectiveness of a two-component nutritional strategy for blood pressure control in individuals with hypertension users of a public health system: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a nutritional strategy based on two components and adapted for the public health system on blood pressure, cardiometabolic features, self-care, qualify of life and diet quality in individuals with hypertension. METHODS: NUPRESS was an open-label, parallel-group, superiority randomized controlled clinical trial in which participants at least 21 years with hypertension and poorly controlled blood pressure were randomly assigned (1 : 1 allocation ratio) to either an individualized dietary prescription according to nutritional guidelines (control group, n  = 205); or a two-component nutrition strategy, including a goal-directed nutritional counseling and mindfulness techniques (NUPRESS [intervention] group, n  = 205). Primary outcomes were SBP (mmHg) after 24 weeks of follow up and blood pressure control, defined as either having SBP more than 140 mmHg at baseline and achieving 140 mmHg or less after follow-up or having SBP 140 mmHg or less at baseline and reducing the frequency of antihypertensive drugs in use after follow-up. RESULTS: In total, 410 participants were randomized and submitted to an intention-to-treat analysis regarding primary outcomes. Both groups decreased blood pressure, but after adjusting for baseline values, there was no significant difference between them on SBP [intervention-control difference: -0.03 (-3.01; 2.94); P  = 0.98] nor blood pressure control [odds ratio 1.27 (0.82; 1.97); P  = 0.28]. No differences between groups were also detected regarding secondary and tertiary outcomes. CONCLUSION: There was no difference between a two-component nutritional strategy and an established dietary intervention on blood pressure in participants with hypertension.

Mindfulness Practice for Glycemic Control: Could it be a New Strategy for an Old Problem? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) requires a complex and organized care that includes patient's lifestyle change. Additionally, emotional well-being is an important part of self-management, and it may impair the individual's adherence. Therefore, equipping the patients with the necessary coping and self-care techniques may be an important step in managing diabetes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of interventions using established mindfulness-based protocols on glycemic control of individuals with T2DM. METHODS: Data sources: Two electronic databases (PubMed and EMBASE) were searched from inception to December 2019. We limited our search to published studies in English, Spanish and Portuguese languages. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized clinical trials that assessed the effects of mindfulness in individuals with T2DM were selected. DATA EXTRACTION: Two authors independently assessed the risk of bias and extracted data from the included trials. Data were pooled using inverse-variance random-effects meta-analyses. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. RESULTS: Four randomized trials were included. There were no differences in blood glucose change (mean difference between groups (MD) -0.73mg/dl; 95% CI, -10.49; 9.02; I2 =0%; very low quality of evidence) or glycated hemoglobin (MD 0.05%; 95%CI -0.22 to 0.32; I2 =29%; very low quality of evidence). CONCLUSION: Although the quality of current evidence is very low, our findings suggest that established protocols involving mindfulness have no effect on blood glucose or glycated hemoglobin in individuals with T2DM. Indeed, large-scale trials are needed to evaluate the contribution of mindfulness to glycemic control in clinical practice. PROSPERO Registration ID: RD42020161940.

Between health and pleasure: perceptions of patients with cardiovascular disease following a nutritional intervention / Entre a saúde e o prazer: percepções de pacientes com doença cardiovascular acompanhados por um programa de intervenção nutricional / Entre la salud y el placer: percepciones de pacientes con enfermedad cardiovascular seguidos de un programa de intervención nutricional

The Brazilian Cardioprotective Nutritional Program (Balance)(f) consists of a nutritional counseling strategy aiming to prevent new cardiovascular events. This qualitative investigation is a case study of Balance aiming to understand the process of food choices related to the adherence of participants to the nutritional counseling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 participants and analyzed according to thematic content analysis. Patients reported incorporating nutritional advice and how they negotiate food choices to achieve a healthy diet while maintaining the consumption of pleasurable foods, some of them recommended avoiding. The continuous tensions and conflicts between healthy and pleasurable eating which permeate patients' food choices should be addressed in nutritional counseling, enabling greater and long-lasting adherence to Balance.

O Programa Alimentar Brasileiro Cardioprotetor (Dica Br) consiste em uma estratégia de aconselhamento nutricional com o objetivo de prevenção da incidência de novos eventos cardiovasculares. Esta investigação qualitativa é um estudo de caso do Dica Br e visa compreender o processo de escolhas alimentares relacionadas à adesão dos participantes às estratégias orientadas. Aplicou-se a análise de conteúdo temática para explorar as entrevistas semiestruturadas realizadas com dez participantes. Os pacientes relataram incorporar as orientações nutricionais e como negociam suas escolhas alimentares para alcançar uma alimentação saudável mantendo o consumo de alimentos prazerosos, sendo alguns recomendados a serem evitados pelo Dica Br. As contínuas tensões e conflitos entre comer por saúde e comer por prazer que permeiam as escolhas alimentares dos pacientes devem ser abordados no aconselhamento nutricional, possibilitando maior e duradoura adesão ao Dica Br.

El Programa Alimentario Brasileño Cardioprotector (Dica Br) consiste en una estrategia de prevención de nuevos eventos cardiovasculares. Esta investigación cualitativa es un estudio de caso del Dica Br con el objetivo de comprender el proceso de elección alimentaria relacionada con la adhesión a las estrategias orientadas. Se aplicó el análisis de contenido temático para explorar las entrevistas semiestructuradas realizadas con 10 participantes. Los pacientes informaron incorporar pautas nutricionales y cómo negocian sus elecciones alimentarias para lograr una dieta saludable mientras mantienen el consumo de alimentos placenteros, algunos de los cuales se recomienda evitar. Las tensiones y conflictos continuos entre comer para la salud y comer por placer que impregnan las elecciones alimentarias deben abordarse en el asesoramiento nutricional para una mayor y duradera adherencia al Dica Br.

Efeito de um programa multiprofissional no desempenho físico e nutricional de idosos / Efecct of a multicisciplinary program on physical performance and nutritional status elderly

Introdução: A diminuição da capacidade funcional, do desempenho físico e a desnutrição são desafios comumente enfrentados pela população idosa e estão relacionadas à diminuição da qualidade de vida e da independência. Nesse sentido, estratégias de promoção à atividade física e à alimentação saudável são estratégias fundamentais para esse público. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito de uma intervenção multidisciplinar sobre o desempenho físico e estado nutricional de idosos. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo prospectivo de intervenção não controlado. Foi avaliado o desempenho físico, a partir do Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB); o risco de desnutrição, a partir da Mini Avaliação Nutricional (MAN); a vulnerabilidade a partir do Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13); e a flexibilidade da articulação coxofemoral, a partir do Testede Flexibilidade. A intervenção teve duração de seis meses e consistiu em 48 sessões de exercícios físicos em grupo, que combinaram exercícios de alongamento, atividade aeróbia e cinesioterapia, e em 12 encontros em grupo de educação alimentar e nutricional, abordando a alimentação saudável. Resultados: Participaram da intervenção 46 idosos com média de idade de 70,3 (±9,0) anos. Após a intervenção, foi observada melhora significativa nos escores do SPPB (p<0,001) e no teste de flexibilidade (p = 0,002). Houve melhora também no estado nutricional dos idosos, com aumento no escore da MAN (p = 0,006), diminuindo o número de idosos sob risco de desnutrição. Conclusão: A intervenção melhorou o desempenho físico, com o aumento da capacidade funcional e flexibilidade, e o estado nutricional, com a diminuição de indivíduos sob risco de desnutrição.(AU)

Introduction: Decreased functional capacity and malnutrition are a common challenge in the healthcare of the elderly and are related to decreased quality of life and independence. Therefore, strategies to promote physical activity and healthy eating habits are fundamental. Objective: To evaluate the effect of a multidisciplinary intervention on the physical performance and nutritional status of the elderly. Methods: This is an uncontrolled intervention study. Participants functional capacity, nutritional status, vulnerability and flexibility were evaluated using Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA®), Vulnerable Elders Survey (VES-13) and the flexibility test, respectively. The intervention lasted six months and consisted of 48 exercise sessions, which combined stretching exercises, aerobic activity and kinesiotherapy, and in 12 nutritional education encounters addressing healthy eating habits. Results: 46 elderly people with mean age of 70.3 (±9.0) years old participated throughout the intervention period. After the intervention, a significant improvement was observed in the SPPB scores (p<0.001) and in the flexibility test (p 0.002). There was also an improvement in the nutritional status of the elderly, with an increase in the MNA (p 0.006), decreasing the number of elderly people at risk of malnutrition. Conclusion: The intervention improved physical performance, with increased functional capacity and flexibility, and nutritional status, with a decrease in individuals at risk of malnutrition.(AU)

Implementation of a Brazilian Cardioprotective Nutritional (BALANCE) Program for improvement on quality of diet and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events: A randomized, multicenter trial

Background Complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with higher ischemic risk, which can be mitigated by long-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). However, concomitant high bleeding risk (HBR) may be present, making it unclear whether short- or long-term DAPT should be prioritized. Objectives This study investigated the effects of ischemic (by PCI complexity) and bleeding (by PRECISE-DAPT [PRE dicting bleeding Complications in patients undergoing stent Implantation and Sub sequent Dual Anti Platelet Therapy] score) risks on clinical outcomes and on the impact of DAPT duration after coronary stenting. Methods Complex PCI was defined as ≥3 stents implanted and/or ≥3 lesions treated, bifurcation stenting and/or stent length >60 mm, and/or chronic total occlusion revascularization. Ischemic and bleeding outcomes in high (≥25) or non-high (<25) PRECISE-DAPT strata were evaluated based on randomly allocated duration of DAPT. Results Among 14,963 patients from 8 randomized trials, 3,118 underwent complex PCI and experienced a higher rate of ischemic, but not bleeding, events. Long-term DAPT in non-HBR patients reduced ischemic events in both complex (absolute risk difference: −3.86%; 95% confidence interval: −7.71 to +0.06) and noncomplex PCI strata (absolute risk difference: −1.14%; 95% confidence interval: −2.26 to −0.02), but not among HBR patients, regardless of complex PCI features. The bleeding risk according to the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction scale was increased by long-term DAPT only in HBR patients, regardless of PCI complexity. Conclusions Patients who underwent complex PCI had a higher risk of ischemic events, but benefitted from long-term DAPT only if HBR features were not present. These data suggested that when concordant, bleeding, more than ischemic risk, should inform decision-making on the duration of DAPT. (AU)