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Aims Psychological factors are among the most suspected indicators which may cause atherosclerosis. Coping strategies modifying psychological stress may be significantly associated with health outcomes. However, little is known about the influence of adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies on major adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. The purpose of this study is to examine this idea among a sample of adults. Design: cohort study. Methods and results The Isfahan cohort study (ICS) is a longitudinal population-based, prospective study. Participants (⁠ N = 6323 individuals aged 35 years or greater at baseline) were selected by multistage random sampling with 6-year intervals (i.e. 2001: 6323 individuals, 2007: 3296 individuals, and 2013: 1706 individuals). Adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies were evaluated by a multicomponent self-administered stress management paper-based questionnaire. All CVD events were confirmed by a blinded panel of experts and a marginal cox regression model was used to model the survival data. Adaptive coping strategies could be protective against CVD events with hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) [0.97 (0.95–0.99)] and maladaptive coping strategies seem to be a risk factor, 1.02 (1.01–1.04) in the whole population. Individuals younger than 60 showed similar results, with 0.96 (0.93–0.98) and 1.04 (1.01–1.07) for adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies, respectively. However, these findings were not replicated among seniors older than age 60. Conclusion Based on our results, coping strategies have an important role in cardiovascular events, particularly among young adults. According to the results, informing patients about adaptive stress management may promote primary prevention of CVD events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined the importance of understanding and incorporating cultural context within Aotearoa/New Zealand when engaging in clinical research and practice. This paper reports on the qualitative findings of a mixed methods study aimed at determining what effect a cardiac risk reduction exercise and lifestyle management programme, embedded within a kaupapa Māori methodological approach, had on Māori participants. This methodology saw participants able to redevelop a western model cardiac risk reduction programme by introducing a Māori worldview. Our study revealed how the kaupapa Māori approach empowered participants to examine and evaluate not only their own health and lifestyle choices, but those of family and the wider community. Combining biomedical and kaupapa Māori components into the programme was found to benefit participants' mental, physical, spiritual and family well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation is effective in reducing mortality and morbidity, in improving life expectancy and quality of life for people with cardiovascular disease. Despite these recognised benefits, women's attendance rates in cardiac rehabilitation programmes remain suboptimal. Aims: This paper details the study that explored factors that influence women's attendance of a phase two cardiac rehabilitation programme in Indonesia Methods: An exploratory qualitative research design was used in the study. Semi-structured interviews were used as the main method of data collection. Data were collected from June to September 2016. Twenty-three women aged between 30 and 66 years were interviewed. Transcribed interview data were analysed using a qualitative framework analysis. Results: Three major themes were inferred from the analysis: (a) a bridge to normal; (b) connecting with others; and (c) contextual factors. The first theme is illustrated by two subthemes: 'making my heart work again' and 'performing social roles'. The second theme was illustrated by the following subthemes: 'exchanging knowledge and experience' and 'developing a give-and-take relationship'. The third theme was illustrated by three subthemes: 'recommendations from the staff', 'family support' and 'availability of health insurance'. Conclusion: Women's attendance in cardiac rehabilitation in Indonesia is mainly influenced by their expectations and desire to be able to resume their previous social roles in the family and society. The findings of this study can assist healthcare professionals to understand better the needs of women and the fit between women's needs and existing cardiac rehabilitation programmes. Such understanding could provide direction for more effective approaches to the cardiac rehabilitation programmes that are currently offered in Indonesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coconut oil is being heavily promoted as a healthy oil, with benefits that include support of heart health. To assess the merits of this claim, the literature on the effect of coconut consumption on cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes in humans was reviewed. Twenty-one research papers were identified for inclusion in the review: 8 clinical trials and 13 observational studies. The majority examined the effect of coconut oil or coconut products on serum lipid profiles. Coconut oil generally raised total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol to a greater extent than cis unsaturated plant oils, but to a lesser extent than butter. The effect of coconut consumption on the ratio of total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was often not examined. Observational evidence suggests that consumption of coconut flesh or squeezed coconut in the context of traditional dietary patterns does not lead to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, due to large differences in dietary and lifestyle patterns, these findings cannot be applied to a typical Western diet. Overall, the weight of the evidence from intervention studies to date suggests that replacing coconut oil with cis unsaturated fats would alter blood lipid profiles in a manner consistent with a reduction in risk factors for cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]