ResearchUnderstanding Risk Trial
A lack of regular physical activity may contribute to the early onset and progression of heart disease. In people with type 2 diabetes the risk of developing heart disease is much greater that in non-diabetic people. Almost any increase in physical activity is likely to result in health benefits and a reduction in the risk of a heart attack. This study therefore aims to find out whether informing people of their future risk for heart disease can encourage them to increase their levels of physical activity and reduce their risk levels.
Volunteers will be assessed at the start of the trial for glucose tolerance (a test for diabetes) and blood cholesterol levels (a risk factor for heart disease). In addition, they will have body measurements taken and physical activity assessed by accelerometer over seven days. They will also answer a questionnaire about their lifestyle including questions on smoking and alcohol intake.
The volunteers will then be split into four groups. Group 1 will be provided with personalised estimates of their future risk of having a heart attack. Alongside this they will be given brief advice about how they might reduce this risk through changes to their lifestyle, in particular physical activity. The results from Group 1 will then be compared to the others groups:
- Group 2 – future risk assessment but no lifestyle advice
- Group 3 – lifestyle advice but no future risk assessment
- Group 4 – no risk assessment and no lifestyle advice
After four weeks each group is reassessed as described earlier. In addition they are asked to complete a questionnaire on their recall of the advice they were given after their first assessment. Results from the four groups will then be analysed and compared to see whether lifestyle behaviour is increased more in people provided with future heart disease risk assessment and/or lifestyle advice.
This trial is in collaboration with Dr Hermione Price and Professor Rury Holman from the Diabetes Trials Unit in Oxford.
