Cydni Smith

A Middle School Intervention to Improve Health Behaviors and Reduce Cardiac Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to measure the impact of a school-based multidisciplinary intervention program on risk factors for atherosclerosis in sixth-grade middle school students. We also measured health behaviors before and after the intervention using a validated questionnaire. METHODS A prospective study was performed in which students served as historical controls. Sixth-grade students from 23 middle schools in 12 cities with varying populations were exposed to a program promoting healthful activity and nutrition habits through educational and environmental change. Along with a modified School-Based Nutrition Monitoring behavioral questionnaire, physiologic risk factors were studied, including body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, cholesterol panel, and random blood glucose, which were measured before the 10-week program and again 1 to 3 months after program completion. RESULTS Of 4021 sixth graders (male, 49%) at 23 middle schools completing a before and after behavioral survey, 2118 students, aged 11.56 ± 0.47 years, consented to participate in the screening. The mean total cholesterol value decreased from 161.64 ± 28.99 mg/dL to 154.77 ± 27.26 mg/dL (P < .001). The low-density lipoprotein value decreased from 89.37 ± 25.08 mg/dL to 87.14 ± 24.25 mg/dL (P < .001). The high-density lipoprotein value decreased from 52.15 ± 13.35 md/dL to 49.95 ± 13.28 mg/dL (P < .001). The measure of triglycerides decreased from 113.34 ± 73.19 mg/dL to 101.22 ± 63.93 mg/dL (P < .001). The random glucose value decreased from 97.51 ± 16.00 to 94.94 ± 16.62 (P < .001). The mean systolic blood pressure decreased from 109.47 ± 15.26 mm Hg to 107.76 ± 10.87 mm Hg (P < .001), and the mean diastolic blood pressure decreased from 64.78 ± 8.57 mm Hg to 63.35 ± 7.81 mm Hg (P < .001). These changes in physiologic measures seemed to correlate with self-reported increases in vegetable and fruit consumption, increases in physical activity, and less screen time. CONCLUSIONS Project Healthy Schools, a middle school intervention to improve childhood cardiovascular risk factors, is feasible and seems to be effective. The results showed significant improvements in risk factors associated with early atherosclerosis among sixth-grade students, including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Further study with a larger group of students and a longer follow-up period would be valuable.

Cardiac implantable electronic device reutilization: battery life of explanted devices at a tertiary care center.

Prior studies have suggested that pacemaker reuse may be a reasonable alternative to provide device therapy in the low‐ and middle‐income countries. We studied explant indications and remaining battery life of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) at a tertiary medical center.

School intervention incorporates farm to school programs to highlight healthy eating: a report from Project Healthy Schools.

Approximately one third of American children and adolescents are overweight or obese and childhood obesity rates have tripled since 1980.1 Obesity sets the stage for a host of potential emotional and long-term health problems, including low self-esteem, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer.2–4 Lifestyle changes which improve nutrition and activity can reduce overall health risk.4,5 Project Healthy schools (PHs), a University–community collaborative, strives to improve the present and future health of middle school students, the full methods of which have been previously published.6 Prior studies have demonstrated improvements in both physiological and behavioral measurements immediately after intervention and 3 years postintervention.6,7 since its inception in 2004, PHs has encouraged healthy habits in over 13,000 Michigan youth in 21 schools through education and environmental changes. PHs meets its educational aims through 10 standardized, half-hour, in-class lessons, delivered weekly, focusing on the project’s five behavioral goals:

BRIDGING THE DISCHARGE GAP EFFECTIVELY (BRIDGE): FOLLOW-UP RESULTS ON THE EFFECT OF THE BRIDGE CLINIC TRANSITIONAL CARE MODEL ON PREVENTING EARLY READMISSIONS AND ED VISITS -6 MONTH OUTCOMES

BRIDGE is a nurse practitioner (NP) based post-discharge cardiac transitional care program aimed at ensuring prompt follow-up (f/u) and facilitation of care. Pilot studies demonstrated improved 30 day outcomes for attendees. We expand our observations to a larger updated cohort referred to BRIDGE