Community heart health actions for senior Latinos at risk (CHARLAR)

Although Latinos are known to have greater prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. obesity, decreased physical activity, high cholesterol and high fat diets), they are less likely than non-Latino Whites to receive blood pressure and cholesterol screening, smoking cessation advice, know their risk factor values, and be treated for hypertension. These facts leave this population vulnerable to CV disease and magnify the importance of delivering culturally appropriate prevention programs to an older adult (>50 years) Latino population growing at a rate three times that of non-Latinos. In partnership with local community-based organizations, the Colorado Prevention Center developed Community Heart Health Actions for Senior Latinos at Risk (CHARLAR). Employing a community-based participatory approach, participants receive pre-post CVD and diabetes screening, 12 weeks of promotora-led evidence-based prevention education, facilitation into local medical clinics and weekly walking groups. Of 240 participants enrolled, 127 (53%) completed at least 8 sessions of the 12 week program. We observed a mean decrease (95%CI) in the following: total cholesterol 11.5 mg/dl (3.0 - 19.9); systolic blood pressure 4.1 mm/Hg, (0.7 – 7.5); weight 4.0 lbs. (-1.0 - 9.0). Participants experienced a mean increase in: weekly fruit consumption 1.5 servings/week (-0.3 – 3.3); vegetable consumption 1 serving/week (-0.9 – 2.8). Lastly, mean number of correctly identified CVD risk factors increased by 2.5 (2.0 – 3.0). CHARLAR affords older adult Latinos in NW Denver access to culturally tailored evidence-based education which facilitates the adoption of heart healthy behaviors and improvement of risk factor profiles associated with CV disease.