CHANGES IN BLOOD-PRESSURE AND IN THE SMOK ING HABIT AFTER 3 YEARS OF MULTIFACTORIAL INTERVENTION

BACKGROUND: The feasibility of successfully reducing cardiovascular ri sk factors is supported by large studies. Nevertheless, controversy re mains about the actual efficacy of some lifestyle interventions. This report assess the effectiveness of different levels of intervention at the work-site on blood pressure and smoking. METHODS: At the begginin g of the program 1.193 men and 362 women were included in it. Individu alized face-to-face counseling was given to employees by four differen t occupational physicians. After 3 years, 980 individuals remained in the study. The differences among the four groups allowed us to disting uish three different levels of intensity of interventions and a fourth group that was the reference one. Observed changes in blood pressure were compared using analysis of covariance. Adjusted odds ratio of smo king quit rates were calculated by logistic regression. RESULTS: Inten sive intervention was significantly different from control group and t he group of mild intervention. Moderate intervention was the only one to bring about a significant reduction of arterial blood pressures. Th is reduction was consistent with the lower threshold used in this grou p to classify diastolic blood pressure as high. Smoking quit rate was 22% for intensive and moderate interventions. Adjusted odds ratio for quitting smoking was 5.81 (95% CI 1.29-26.14) for moderate and 8.2 (IC 95% 1.75-38.46) for intensive intervention. CONCLUSIONS: A lower thre shold for starting intervention measures on blood pressure is suggeste d to achieve better results. As the intensity of interventions was str onger, smoking quit rates were higher.