Health Behaviour and Readiness to Change After Myocardial Infarction: A Cross-sectional Survey

Cardiovascular Risk Behavior and Readiness for Lifestyle Change After Myocardial Infarction: A Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study (HERZ-AKTIV)

This study investigates health behaviour and readiness for lifestyle change in patients who recently had a heart attack (myocardical infarction) treated with stenting (PTCA). Despite successful acute treatment, many patients remain at increased risk of a second heart atttack because lifestyle changes are not consistently maintained. Participants who had a heart attack within the past 6 months will complete standardized questionnaires on readiness to change, quality of life, anxiety/depression, and physical functioning, plus a free-text section on personal barriers to change. Findings will characterize this population and inform a future lifestyle intervention trial

Cardiovascular diseses are the leading cause of deaths in Germany and worldwide. Even after successfull PTCA, reinfarction rates remain elevated, partly because patients often underestimate their ongoing risk, have limited knowledge of secondary prevention targets and show low self-efficacy for behavior change; anxiety and depression are also common after myocardial infarction.

This single-center, cross-sectional study enrolls patients treated with PTCA within the past 6 months, recruited during their routine follow-up visit at the Lipidambulanz, Westdeutsches Herz- und Gefäßzentrum, University Hospital Essen. Participants complete validated questionnaires: PIAC (primary outcome; rediness to change), SF-36 (quality of life); HADS (anxiety/depression), and KCCQ-23 (physical functioning), plus sociodemographic data and free-text section on perceived barriers.

This study is purely observational, involves no interventions or biospecimens and takes about 30 minutes. A sample of 143 participants was calculated for adequate precision in estimating the PIAC meand and supporting exploratory regression analyses, accounting for 10% dropout. Data collection runs 6 months, followed by 18 months of analysus. Results wull inform a planned randomized controlled trial.

Inclusion Criteria:

• age over 18 years
• myocardial infarction within past 6 months
• PTCA treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age under 18
• history of multiple myocardial infactionrs
• myocardial infarction more than 6 months prior
• myocardial infarction not treated by PTCA
• absence of informed consent
• severe cognitive impairment precluding data collection