Objectives: EUROACTION is a European Society of Cardiology cluster randomized controlled trial of a nurse-coordinated multidisciplinary preventive cardiology program which aims to manage coronary patients and their families to the European lifestyle, risk factor, and therapeutic targets.
Methods: In each of 6 European countries, one pair of matched hospitals was randomized to intervention or monitored for usual care. All new coronary patients and their partners were invited to attend a 16-week comprehensive risk factor and lifestyle management program. Measurement tools included breath carbon monoxide, a food habit questionnaire, 24-hour dietary recall, 7-day physical activity recall. All patients and partners were reviewed at 1 year.
Results: Nine hundred forty-six (60% of those eligible) patients and 401 (61% of those eligible) partners in intervention (INT) 994 (66% of those eligible) patients and 335 (64% of those eligible) partners in usual care (UC) attended the final assessment.
Conclusions: EUROACTION has demonstrated that it is possible to improve on UC. The program helped more coronary patients and their partners achieve healthier lifestyle changes, especially for diet and physical activity, together with reductions in weight and central adiposity, thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease in everyday clinical practice.