چکیده (انگلیسی):

Background:Statin prescribing and healthy lifestyles contribute to declining cardiovascular disease mortality.
Recent guidelines emphasise the importance of giving lifestyle advice in association with prescribing statins but
adherence to healthy lifestyle recommendations is sub-optimal. However, little is known about any change in
patients’ lifestyle behaviours when starting statins or of their recall of receiving advice. This study aimed to examine
patients’ diet and physical activity (PA) behaviours and their recall of lifestyle advice following initiation of statin
prescribing in primary care.
Method:In 12 general practices, patients with a recent initial prescription of statin therapy, were invited to
participate. Those who agreed received a food diary by post, to record food consumed over 4 consecutive days
and return to the researcher. We also telephoned participants to administer brief validated questionnaires to assess
typical daily diet (DINE) and PA level (Godin). Using the same methods, food diaries and questionnaires were
repeated 3 months later. At both times participants were asked if they had changed their behaviour or received
advice about their diet or PA.
Results:Of 384 invited, 122 (32 %) participated; 109 (89.3 %) completed paired datasets; 50 (45.9 %) were male;
their mean age was 64 years. 53.2 % (58/109) recalled receiving lifestyle advice. Of those who did, 69.0 % (40/58)
reported having changed their diet or PA, compared to 31.4 % (16/51) of those who did not recall receiving advice.
Initial mean daily saturated fat intake (12.9 % (SD3.5) of total energy) was higher than recommended; mean fibre
intake (13.8 g/day (SD5.5)), fruit/vegetable consumption (2.7 portions/day (SD1.3)) and PA levels (Godin score 7.1
(SD13.9)) were low. Overall, although some individuals showed evidence of behaviour change, there were no
significant changes in the proportions who reported high or medium fat intake (42.2 % v 49.5 %), low fibre (51.4 %
v 55.0 %), or insufficient PA (80.7 % v 83.5 %) at 3-month follow-up.
Conclusion:Whilst approximately half of our cohort recalled receiving lifestyle advice associated with statin
prescribing this did not translate into significant changes in diet or PA. Further research is needed to explore gaps
between people’s knowledge and behaviours and determine how best to provide advice that supports behaviour
change.