The aim of the present study is to describe and evaluate the effect of a structured lifestyle intervention program, focusing on lifestyle habits, in a primary care setting in patients with high cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, we want to explore the patient´s experience of lifestyle change and counseling after participation in the intervention program and to investigate the cost-effectiveness of the program.

Intervention The intervention program comprises five individual visits to the same nurse, specialised in diabetes care and the metabolic syndrome every three month during one year. The nurse led a person centered dialog based on the answers from a questionnaire. At every visit, focus was primarily on lifestyle habits, using motivational interviewing to strengthen the patient's ability to modify one or more lifestyle habits. Dietary counselling was in accordance with the Swedish recommendation in nutrition. If the patient were in need of extended counseling regarding one or more lifestyle habits, he or she could be referred within the primary care unit to a specialist. During the 12-month period, all patients where offered to participate in evening group sessions at three different occasions. Topics were physical activity, fatty acids, healthy food, tobacco and alcohol, stress, sleep and methods of how to change behavior".

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients diagnosed with

• hypertension
• diabetes mellitus type 2
• impaired glucose tolerance

Exclusion Criteria:

• dementia
• severe psychiatric disease
• difficulties to understand Swedish