Table 1.
Variable
|
Intervention group
|
Control group
|
---|---|---|
Age (years) | 57.2 (10.8) | 58.6 (11.5) |
Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 135.1 (19.6) | 135.4 (17.9) |
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 82.4 (12.2) | 81.8 (12.1) |
Body mass index (kg/m2) | 30.0 (6.7) | 29.9 (6.4) |
Cholesterol concentration* (mmol/l) | 5.78 (1.0) | 5.64 (1.0) |
High density lipoprotein concentration* (mmol/l) | 1.33 (0.4) | 1.34 (0.4) |
Four year risk of coronary heart disease* (%) | 5.7 (6.2) | 5.5 (5.8) |
Total energy expenditure (kcal/kg/week) | 237.5 (42.2) | 235.7 (45.3) |
Leisure physical activity† (kcal/kg1/week) | 6.0 (12.2) | 6.5 (11.1) |
Leisure exercise‡ (minutes/day) | 11.3 (21.7) | 12.0 (20.5) |
No of medical drugs taken | 2.6 (2.5) | 2.4 (2.4) |
No (%) of participants: | ||
Female | 301 (67) | 281 (66) |
Lower economic status§ | 205 (45) | 211 (49) |
With post-high school qualification | 106 (24) | 121 (28) |
European origin | 354 (78) | 324 (76) |
Smokers | 78 (17) | 76 (18) |
Diabetic | 46 (10) | 46 (11) |
Hypertensive¶ | 240 (53) | 220 (52) |
Previous cardiovascular disease | 93 (21) | 74 (17) |
Obese (BMI>30) | 198 (44) | 176 (41) |
Taking leisure exercise ⩾2.5 hours/week | 80 (18) | 91 (21) |
SF-36 quality of life scores (out of 100): | ||
Physical functioning | 71.3 (23.9) | 70.9 (24.6) |
Role physical | 57.9 (41.7) | 60.4 (41.4) |
Bodily pain | 61.1 (25.7) | 63.9 (26.9) |
General health | 62.7 (20.7) | 66.1 (20.6) |
Vitality | 53.8 (20.6) | 56.0 (21.2) |
Social functioning | 77.9 (24.6) | 77.6 (25.2) |
Role emotional | 69.6 (41.3) | 68.7 (40.6) |
Mental health | 74.5 (17.3) | 74.0 (18.2) |
No (%) of general practices and doctors: | ||
Rural or semirural practices | 12 (52) | 9 (47) |
Female general practitioners | 17 (28) | 18 (31) |
Cholesterol testing and 4 year risk assessment of coronary heart disease13 14 were carried out on a randomly selected subsample to contain costs (n=787). A further 51 participants declined to have cholesterol testing done.
Leisure physical activity refers to the energy expenditure of all leisure time physical activity considered moderate or vigorous by the respondent.
Leisure exercise refers to minutes spent per week in leisure time activities of moderate or vigorous intensity that required at least three times the metabolic energy expenditure of sitting quietly (3 METs) when classified according to a standard physical activity compendium.12 15
Economic status was measured at baseline by qualification for a low income health subsidy card. 43% of adults over 45 years of age in New Zealand qualify for this card.
Hypertensive refers to a previous diagnosis of hypertension and taking antihypertensive medication or a mean blood pressure of greater than 150 mm Hg systolic or 90 mm Hg diastolic.