Effect of pictorial-based information about atherosclerosis on adherence to lifestyle recommendations: results from the VIPVIZA randomised controlled trial.
AC, W., S, S., A, H., P, L., M, N., M, W., P, W., & P, W. (2026). Effect of pictorial-based information about atherosclerosis on adherence to lifestyle recommendations: results from the VIPVIZA randomised controlled trial.. Open heart. https://doi.org/10.1136/openhrt-2026-004136
AC W, S S, A H, P L, M N, M W, et al. Effect of pictorial-based information about atherosclerosis on adherence to lifestyle recommendations: results from the VIPVIZA randomised controlled trial.. Open heart. 2026; doi: 10.1136/openhrt-2026-004136
AC W, S S, A H, et al. Effect of pictorial-based information about atherosclerosis on adherence to lifestyle recommendations: results from the VIPVIZA randomised controlled trial.[J]. Open heart. 2026. DOI: 10.1136/openhrt-2026-004136.
@article{ac2026,
author = {Wennstig AC and Själander S and Hult A and Liv P and Norberg M and Wennberg M and Wester P and Wennberg P},
title = {Effect of pictorial-based information about atherosclerosis on adherence to lifestyle recommendations: results from the VIPVIZA randomised controlled trial.},
journal = {Open heart},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1136/openhrt-2026-004136},
note = {PMID: 42493198},
}
TY - JOUR AU - Wennstig AC AU - Själander S AU - Hult A AU - Liv P AU - Norberg M AU - Wennberg M AU - Wester P AU - Wennberg P TI - Effect of pictorial-based information about atherosclerosis on adherence to lifestyle recommendations: results from the VIPVIZA randomised controlled trial. T2 - Open heart PY - 2026 DO - 10.1136/openhrt-2026-004136 AN - PMID:42493198 ER -
AIM: Low adherence to a healthy lifestyle constitutes a major barrier to effective prevention of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to investigate the effect of pictorial-based information about subclinical atherosclerosis on adherence to health-promoting lifestyle recommendations. METHODS: Visualization of Asymptomatic Atherosclerotic Disease for Optimum Cardiovascular Prevention (VIPVIZA) is a pragmatic, open-label randomised controlled trial within the Västerbotten Intervention Programme (VIP) in Sweden. In the VIP, residents of Västerbotten county are invited to a health survey and a health-promoting dialogue at the ages of 40, 50 and 60.A total of 3532 VIP participants were included in VIPVIZA during 2013-2016. They underwent a carotid ultrasound examination in addition to the usual VIP process and were randomised 1:1 to intervention group (receiving graphical colour-coded and age-related information about carotid intima-media thickness and plaques, written information about atherosclerosis and a motivational dialogue) or control group (no information or dialogue).We developed a lifestyle index based on self-reported physical activity, smoking habits, diet and alcohol consumption, ranging from 4 to 12, with higher levels indicating healthier lifestyles. We used ordinal regression to compare the lifestyle index in the intervention and control groups at the 3-year follow-up, with adjustments for baseline levels of lifestyle index, age, sex and education. RESULTS: The OR for having a healthier lifestyle index after 3 years was 1.20 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.42, p=0.03), comparing the intervention group to the control group. We found no interactions for age, sex or education. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide some evidence for the contributory role of pictorial-based information about subclinical atherosclerosis in promoting sustained healthy lifestyle habits. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01849575.