The VEND-RISK Study

Background

In western countries, type 2 diabetes (T2D) is highly prevalent, and the most associated risk factor of the condition is increased body mass index (BMI). Prevention of T2D has been emphasised the last 30 years. A large amount of studies have found that the onset of T2D for individuals at high risk can be postponed with behavioural interventions including dietary changes and physical activity. Initially, studies regarding prevention of T2D were conducted with randomised controlled trials (RCTs) performed in comprehensive experimental settings. It was further emphasised as necessary to replicate the RCTs in primary healthcare settings to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of behavioural interventions in real life.14 Consequently, studies provided promising results, showing that it was also possible to prevent T2D in primary healthcare settings. Nevertheless, there are only a few studies reporting long-term results of interventions aiming to reduce the development of T2D. In Norway, Healthy Life Centres (HLC) in primary healthcare target individuals with chronic conditions or at high risk of diseases who need support to change their lifestyle. The HLC offer programmes containing dietary and physical activity courses. However, there is great uncertainty to what extent interventions like HLC programmes contribute to improved health outcomes. The HLC programmes’ content, resources and setting are drawn into question in relation to achieving positive health outcomes for participants. The largest Norwegian study of HLC participants to date found that the initial improvement in physical activity levels immediately after the intervention was not maintained at 12 months follow-up. However, another study found improved diabetes risk measures and anthropometrics at 24-month follow-up. 36 Furthermore, of participants at high risk for developing T2D invited to attend an HLC programme in Norway, the majority did not meet to participate and their characteristics showed that they had lower education levels and were more often unemployed than those who attended the HLC programme. To date, research on long-term impact (>24 months follow-up) of HLC programmes on participants’ health outcomes like diabetes risk measures and anthropometrics is lacking.

Objective

The primary aim of this study was to study the development in participants’ diabetes risk

measures, cardiovascular measures and anthropometrics at 12, 36 and 60 months follow-up.

Impact

Having a long-term commitment for participants in primary healthcare interventions could be beneficial for the reduction of diabetes risk and improvement of anthropometrics as shown at the 60 months follow-up. The study indicates that it is possible to keep people with overweight and obesity at high risk for type 2 diabetes healthier longer, thus, that the disease onset are postponed and cardiometabolic risk are reduced.

Period

2010- d. d.

Contact

Ingrid Følling: ingrid.s.folling@ntnu.no

Dissemination

1. Følling, Ingrid Sørdal; Joramo, Karen; Helvik, Anne-Sofie. Participants stories about long-term achievement 60-months after attending a Healthy Life Centre programme (the VEND-RISK study) - a qualitative study. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being 2022 ;Volum 18.(1)
   
   
2. Følling, Ingrid Sørdal; Kløckner, Christian; Devle, Monica Tømmervold; Kulseng, Bård Eirik. Preventing type 2 diabetes, overweight and obesity in the Norwegian primary healthcare: a longitudinal design with 60 months follow-up results and a cross-sectional design with comparison of dropouts versus completers. BMJ Open 2022 ;Volum 12.(3)
   
   
3. Gjertsen, Thea Ingebjørg; Helvik, Anne-Sofie; Følling, Ingrid S. Previous life experiences and social relations affecting individuals wish for support when establishing healthy habits – a qualitative study of Norwegian Healthy Life Centre participants. BMC Public Health 2021 ;Volum 21. s. 1-12
   
   
4. Følling, Ingrid Sørdal; Kulseng, Bård Eirik; Midthjell, Kristian; Rangul, Vegar; Helvik, Anne-Sofie. Individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes invited to a lifestyle program: characteristics of participants versus non-participants (the HUNT Study) and 24-month follow-up of participants (the VEND-RISK Study). BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care 2017 ;Volum 5:e000368. s. 1-11
   
   
5. Følling, Ingrid Sørdal; Solbjør, Marit; Midthjell, Kristian; Kulseng, Bård Eirik; Helvik, Anne-Sofie.
   
   
6. Exploring lifestyle and risk in preventing type 2 diabetes-a nested qualitative study of older participants in a lifestyle intervention program (VEND-RISK). BMC Public Health 2016 ;Volum 16.(876

Popular science

• Agderposten 20.02.23 "Ikke ett fett hvilken medisin du får"
• Aftenposten 2022 "Ny studie om livsstil og diabetes overrasker"
• News Medical Life Sciences 2022 "Long-term follow-up from health services could be beneficial for reduction of diabetes risk"
• EurekAlert! 2022 “L ong-term follow-up reduces risk of type 2 diabetes Healthier habits and more activity reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes”
• Små grep gir positiv effekt. Selbyggen [Avis] 2022-10-13
• Gemini 13.04. 2022 "Langvarig oppfølging reduserer risikoen for diabetes".
• Norsk Helseinformatikk [Fagblad] 19.04.2022 "Diabetes type 2: Enkle grep, store endringer"
• Health Management.org 12.04.2022 "Follow-up Reduces Risk of Type 2 Diabetes"
• Bladet [Avis] 2022-10-18Deltakerne i dette prosjektet fikk redusert risiko for fryktet sykdom
• Meråkerposten [Avis] 2022-11-21 «12 år siden oppstart-nå blir det oppfrisk av Vend-Risk»

Funding

Statsforvalteren Trøndelag, Orkdal Sanitetsforening, Helse- og Omsorgsdepartementet

Collaborators

Helseundersøkelsen i Trøndelag (HUNT Studien), Værnesregionen Frisklissentral, Værnesregionen sentralt, Biobank1, Helse-Midt Norge og NTNU

For Norwegian

Her finner du informasjon på norsk