Background
Having a partner is
associated with better prognosis in patients with cardiovascular disease. However,
the influence of partners on modification of patients’ lifestyle-related risk
factors (LRFs) is unclear. Therefore, we studied the influence of partners and
the level of partner participation on LRF modification in patients after an acute
coronary syndrome (ACS) or revascularization.

Methods  The RESPONSE-2 trial was a community-based
lifestyle intervention trial comparing nurse-coordinated referral to a comprehensive
set of lifestyle interventions (physical activity, weight reduction and/or
smoking cessation) to usual care. In the current analysis, we investigated the association of
having a partner on the improvement in >1 LRF without deterioration in
other LRFs at 12 months follow-up. Secondary, the influence of the level of
partner participation (participating partner, non-participating partner
and no partner) in the intervention group was studied.

Results In
total 824 individuals (411 intervention, 413 control) were included in the
analysis. The presence of a partner was comparable in both groups (intervention
74%, control 69%). In the intervention group, 48% of partners participated in
the lifestyle interventions. Overall, having a partner was positively
associated with improvement in LRFs (odds ratio (OR) 2.57 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.57 – 4.21),
p<0.001). In the intervention group, having a participating partner
was also positively associated with improvement in LRFs compared to patients
without a partner (OR 2.45 95% CI 1.25 – 4.79, p=0.009). When analysed the
influence of partners on LRFs separately, patients with a participating partner
were most successful in reducing weight compared to patients without a partner (OR
2.71 95% CI 1.16 – 6.36, p=0.02).

Conclusion
Having a partner is
associated with improvement on LRFs in patients after ACS or revascularization.
Moreover, patients with participating partners in the lifestyle programs were most
successful in LRF modification. Involvement of partners in lifestyle interventions
should be considered in routine practice.