Two Intensive Life Style Intervention Programs in Related Caregivers of Preschool Children

Substantial strides have been made in the treatment of acute cardiovascular conditions, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, however, the global burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to rise at an alarming rate. Furthermore, despite the abundant data demonstrating a greater burden of CVD in racial/ethnic minorities, and many specific interventions aimed at changing risk factor patterns or behaviors in racial/ethnic minorities, health disparities persist. In the present study, the investigators seek to evaluate the impact of a multifaceted and comprehensive lifestyle intervention coupled with atherosclerosis imaging on reducing cardiovascular risk among minority adults living in Harlem, New York. The investigators believe that holistic, multi-dimensional individual and peer-to-peer intensive lifestyle interventions involving parents/caregivers of preschool children will be effective in producing favorable change in their behaviors, which will be sustained over time. The primary hypothesis of the study is that aggressive lifestyle interventions will be more effective in improving healthy behaviors and biological correlates in at-risk adult parents and/or caregivers of preschool children in Harlem, NY. In aim 1, as an initial pilot study, the investigators will identify the contextual factors, facilitators and barriers that may impact the implementation of a lifestyle intervention program for adults in Harlem, using qualitative research methods. In aim 2, the investigators will determine the impact of two intensive lifestyle interventions on promoting and improving healthy behaviors and biological parameters to lower cardiovascular risk, the impact of the knowledge of presence of atherosclerosis on health behaviors and the impact of these lifestyle interventions on atherosclerosis among approximately 600 asymptomatic at-risk adults. Finally, in aim 3, the investigators will evaluate the sustainability of the impact of the two intensive lifestyle interventions on healthy behaviors and biological parameters approximately 12 months after the intervention program ends.

Aim 1 - Pilot: To identify the contextual factors, facilitators and barriers that may impact the implementation of a lifestyle intervention program for adults in Harlem, using qualitative research methods: 1) focus group discussions among a representative cohort of adults; 2) focus group discussions among community leaders; and 3) Pilot studies of feasibility of interventions in the representative cohort of adults.

Subsidiary Aim 1.1: To use identified facilitators and barriers to develop a contextually and culturally appropriate model for an adult lifestyle intervention program.

Subsidiary Aim 1.2: To implement a pilot intervention of the contextually and culturally adapted program among a sample of parents/caregivers of children in preschools in Harlem.

The investigators will assess for acceptability and feasibility, and make any necessary modifications prior to the implementation of the cluster-randomized trial. This aim will be carried out at 2 preschools in Harlem, NY by including the parents and caregivers of pre-school children. The final intervention program that results from this intervention-mapping program will be piloted in parent groups of 8-10.

Aim 2 - Randomization: To determine (i) the impact of two intensive lifestyle interventions on promoting and improving healthy behaviors (increased physical activity, smoking cessation etc.) and biological parameters (lipids, sugar) to lower cardiovascular risk, (ii) the impact of the presence of atherosclerosis on health behaviors and (iii) the impact of the lifestyle interventions on atherosclerosis among approximately 600 asymptomatic at-risk adults.

Hypothesis: Adults receiving the lifestyle intervention programs will demonstrate a greater improvement in healthy behaviors and biological parameters compared to controls.

Hypothesis: Knowledge of presence of atherosclerosis as defined by three-dimensional vascular ultrasound will lead to greater improvement in healthy behaviors.

Hypothesis: Adults receiving the lifestyle intervention programs will demonstrate a lesser progression or regression of three-dimensional vascular ultrasound quantified atherosclerosis compared to controls.

For this aim, the investigators will recruit parents and caregivers of pre-school children from up to twenty schools in Harlem, NY and perform a 3:2 (3 intervention, 2 control) cluster randomization of the schools. Those schools in the "intensive intervention" group will be randomly assigned to one of two interventions- an Intensive Individual Intervention Program" (IIIP) developed through the intervention mapping program described in aim 1 or 'Peer-To-Peer Program - Intervention" (PPPI), refined during that same pilot phase. The primary outcome will be a composite score consisting of a 0-3 scale for behaviors/outcomes related to Blood pressure, Exercise, Weight, Alimentation (diet) and Tobacco (smoking) [Fuster-BEWAT score]. Primary assessments will be performed at baseline, at the end of the intervention (approximately 12 months, peak effect), and at approximately 24 months (sustainability). The 12 month assessment will be used to calculate the between group difference for the change in the Fuster-BEWAT score and will be the primary outcome measure for the adults. To evaluate the sustainability of the impact of the two intensive lifestyle interventions on healthy behaviors and biological parameters 12 months after the intervention program ends. For the assessment of secondary outcome measures, participants will undergo point of care testing for a lipid panel and blood sugar assessment, and a three-dimensional vascular ultrasound (carotid, ileo-femoral) to assess for presence and extent of atherosclerosis at baseline and after the intervention period.

Blood will be collected from all adults who provide consent at enrollment and at the end of the intervention period. Blood from adults will be used to isolate DNA and plasma. In addition, by in vitro culture of blood-derived mononuclear cells, we will derive macrophages, which will then be driven to become foam cells. RNA will be isolated from pre- and post-intervention blood samples. Genomic data obtained from adult blood samples will be integrated with data obtained from saliva in children to identify network models and predictors of primary prevention outcomes. Also, RNA data will be integrated to identify the genetic, genomic and molecular signature of favorable vs. poor responders to lifestyle intervention; and to identify novel therapeutic and diagnostic targets in network models of early atherothrombotic disease.

Aim 3 - Sustainability: To evaluate the sustainability of the impact of the two intensive lifestyle interventions on healthy behaviors and biological parameters approximately 12 months after the intervention program ends.

Hypothesis: Adult caregivers receiving the intensive lifestyle approaches program, will maintain sustainability with an advantage of the two "Intensive Interventional groups" over the control "Traditional Health Education" group. All participants will be followed for approximately 12 months after the end of the intervention period and reassess their Fuster-BEWAT Score.

Inclusion Criteria:

Parents and caretakers of children attending 15 preschools that will be comparable in characteristics related to socio-economic level and ethnicity.

• The schools must be located in Harlem, NY.
• The schools must be public.
• The schools must have children 3, 4 and 5 years of age.
• The schools must provide meals for the children.
• The schools must make available use of their applicable program operation space.

Adult parents and/or caregivers of children enrolled in the FAMILIA children's study will be approached for participation in this study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participation in any other major structured health intervention program similar to the FAMILIA Program during the evaluation of the program.
• Inability to carry out all activities proposed by the FAMILIA Program.