Primary and secondary prevention seem very effective and important in reducing cardiac risk factors and therefore decreasing morbidity and mortality rates in coronary heart disease. However, it is unclear which cardiac patients benefit from intervention programs and which patients will sustain in their unhealthy behavior. Cardiac rehabilitation might not be necessary for some patients and is not sufficient for others. To evaluate the effectiveness of these programs it is of great importance to identify cardiac patients who imprave their lifestyle after a cardiac event regardless an intervention program, and patients who have difficulty rnanaging a change in their risk factors by themselves. The last group of patients could be helped by a tailor-made intervention program, advised and offered by their treating cardiologist and/or general practitioner. This thesis presents the results of an investigation for the relationship between modifiable cardiac risk factors (smoking habits, physical activity and bodyweight) and biographical and personality characteristics. The general goal was to find out why, despite all good intentions, only few patients succeed in adapting a healthy lifestyle after a cardiac event. lf specific characteristics and personal needs to change risk factors can be identified, targets can be formulated and a tailor-made rehabilitation program can be composed and offered. With as ultimate goal to achieve necessary and realistic risk factor modifications within the physical and psychological limitations of the patient.

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Erasmus University Rotterdam
J. Passchier (Jan)
hdl.handle.net/1765/51343
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Huijbrechts, I. (2003, November 26). 'Keep your heart moving' : modification in smoking habits, physical activity and bodyweight after myocardial infarction. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/51343