The Young Heart Study

Young Patients With Coronary Heart Disease Trial- Assessment of Risk Factors and the Impact of a Risk Reduction Program

The purpose of our project is to better understand the characteristics of the young patients with coronary artery disease presenting for cardiac catheterization at our institution and to put forth a program to optimize their risk factors with a focus on gender differences. We will assess traditional and non-traditional risk factors, as well as genetics and environment. These characteristics will be compared by gender to determine unique factors related to women that could subsequently be targeted. The program will begin with universal education about the process of atherosclerosis, risk factors contributing to the disease and specific risk factor goals for each patient for the 6 month program. The patients will then be part of a bimonthly 6 month cardiovascular risk reduction program that will offer both a nutritional program with teaching kitchen component, and exercise instruction lead by an exercise physiologist. Psychological support will be provided to address stress that impairs quality of life, depression or anxiety to fully optimize the lifestyle component. These sessions will be done virtually in order to comply with social distancing until in person sessions can resume. The investigational endpoints of this program will include a variety of CVD risk factors, biomarkers, lifestyle behaviors, quality of life and guideline-based medical regimen. At the end of this phase, we aim to both better understand differences in risk factors and the interventions with the biggest impact in terms of risk factor optimization in men vs. women.

All participants will receive education about the process of atherosclerosis, risk factors contributing to the disease and specific risk factor goals for each patient for the 6 month program. The patients will then be part of a bimonthly 6 month cardiovascular risk reduction program that will offer both a nutritional program with teaching kitchen component, and exercise instruction lead by an exercise physiologist. Psychological support will be provided to address stress that impairs quality of life, depression or anxiety to fully optimize the lifestyle component.

Will assess changes pre and post intervention in Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol level (measured in mg/dL)

Will assess changes pre and post intervention in physical activity which will be done through a questionnaire where participants will report the frequency and intensity of exercise

Will assess changes in weight by weighing patients on initial visit and again at follow-up. This value will be used in combination with patient's height to evaluate changes in body mass index.

Will assess changes pre and post intervention in diet which will be done via a food intake questionnaire

Surveys of Quality of Life and emotional well-being will be given at baseline and again at the end of the program

Inclusion Criteria: Patient with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease Exclusion Criteria: Age 55 years or older Physical limitation that will prevent them from being part of the exercise part of the study Given that all the sessions will be given in English, participants not fluent in English will be excluded