Peer-group intervention had a positive impact on the behavior of healthy individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease in Grenada, a low-resource country, according to the results of the Grenada Heart Project CHANGE trial, presented Nov. 14 during AHA 2016. The trial is related to the Fifty-Fifty program, which originally evaluated community-based programs in seven municipalities in Spain.

Sameer Bansilal, MD, MS, et al., randomized 402 patients in Grenada into either a peer-group based intervention group or a self-management control group for 12 months to assess the effectiveness of group intervention in changing lifestyle behaviors. At baseline, patients had at least two risk factors, including diabetes, hypertension, overweight, smoking, low vegetable/fruit intake, or physical inactivity.

The results of the study showed that the peer-group based intervention had a positive impact on participants’ behaviors. Overall, there was an improved mean change in a composite score related to blood pressure, exercise, weight, alimentation, tobacco and quality of life.

The authors note that they are assessing the outcomes of the same peer-group intervention programs in the FAMILIA study in Harlem, NY and Mexico City, Mexico.

Keywords: AHA16, American Heart Association, AHA Annual Scientific Sessions, Cardiovascular Diseases, Community Participation, Grenada, Health Behavior, Residence Characteristics, Risk Factors, Primary Prevention

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