Poster Presentation ANZOS-Breakthrough Discoveries Joint Annual Scientific Meeting 2018

Be Healthe for your Heart Study Protocol: Preventing cardiovascular disease among women with a history of pre-eclampsia (#340)

Melinda Hutchesson 1 , Rachael Taylor 1 , Lisa Vincze 2 , Vanessa Shrewsbury 1 , Felicity Park 3 , Linda Campbell 4 , Robin Callister 5 , Clare Collins 1
  1. School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
  2. School of Allied Health Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
  3. Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  4. School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
  5. School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia

For women with a history of pre-eclampsia, the odds of cardiovascular disease (CVD) related morbidity later in life are doubled, and mortality almost tripled compared to other women. Clinical practice guidelines recommend that women with a history of pre-eclampsia have regular CVD risk factor assessment (e.g., blood pressure, serum lipids), and receive counselling about maintaining a healthy weight, healthy eating and adequate physical activity. However, there is currently a lack of health services or programs that address CVD prevention in this group. This project aims to address this gap by creating an eHealth intervention aimed at achieving a healthy lifestyle post pre-eclampsia for CVD prevention. This abstract describes the protocol for a feasibility study. In the 3-month randomised control trial, women, aged 18-45 years, with a recent (≤ 4 years) pregnancy complicated by pre-eclampsia will be randomly allocated to Be Healthe for your Heart or a control group. Be Healthe for your Heart supports participants to make changes to key lifestyle behaviours associated with CVD risk, using evidence-based behaviour change techniques (e.g. self-monitoring, goal setting). Be Healthe for your Heart program resources are tailored to women of childbearing age and delivered via website and email newsletters. Outcomes will be measured at baseline and 3-months, including 10-year cardiovascular risk score, CVD risk markers (BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, plasma lipids), lifestyle risk factors (dietary intake, physical activity, stress) and general health and well-being.  Intervention acceptability will be evaluated using objective usage data, and intervention participant feedback via a process evaluation questionnaire. This eHealth CVD prevention program aims to address the unmet needs of a high-risk group of women. Findings of the feasibility study will inform future efficacy trials, and translation of CVD prevention services for women with a history of pre-eclampsia.