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

Abstract

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 Healthefor 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.