The prevention education program (PEP), a prospective study of the efficacy of family-oriented life style modification in the reduction of cardiovascular risk and disease: Design and baseline data

We describe design and baseline data of the Prevention Education Program (P EP), a home-based and family-oriented intervention program, aimed to assess and improve cardiovascular risk factors in school children and their famil ies during an intervention period of 10 years. Started in 1994 in the Germa n town of Nuremberg, currently 37 elementary schools (22 control and 15 int ervention schools) are enrolled including 1740 families (1740 first graders , 3046 parents, and 1521 siblings). Major cardiovascular risk factors as we ll as dietary behavior are evaluated yearly using structured interview, phy sical examination, laboratory analysis, and seven-day-dietary protocols. Th e intervention package is applied to all families from intervention schools using regular home visits, health curricula and group sessions. Primary ou tcome is any reduction in cardiovascular risk factors by dietary interventi on and health education compared to the control group getting only written information on the individual risk profile. The presented baseline data sho wing a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in adults and in thei r children underline the need for such an intervention program in Germany. J CLIN EPIDEMIOL 52;8:791-800, 1999. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.