Aldana S, Greenlaw R, et al. 2007

17674638

The effects of an intensive lifestyle modification program on carotid artery intima-media thickness: a randomized trial.

Aldana S, Greenlaw R, Salberg A, Merrill R, Hager R, Jorgensen R

American Journal of Health Promotion

2007

21

6

510-516

Randomized Controlled Trial

Some concerns

Participants were included if they had at least two of the following three criteria: chest pain lasting at least30 minutes continuously, electrocardiogram changes typical of an evolving myocardial infarction (ST-segment elevation or depression, evolving Qwaves, or symmetric inversion of T-waves), or elevated levels of cardiac enzymes. Patients were also accepted into the study if they demonstrated any of the following: myocardial infarction within the past 12 months, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, stent placement, rotoblator within the prior12 months, stable angina, or pacemakers associated with one or more of the above diagnoses.

Exclusion criteria include history of substance abuse disorder without documentation of at least 1 year of abstinence, history of psychiatric disorder without documentation of at least 1 year of stability, impaired cognitive function such as dementia or delirium, participation in other lipid-lowering or lifestyle modification trials, and others which were previously documented.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Ornish Program on cardiovascular disease as measured by the intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery and to compare this effect to outcomes from patients participating in traditional cardiac rehabilitation.

Technicians were blinded.

Rockford, IL

Government

Excellence in AcademicMedicine Act of the State of Illinois.