Let’s Get Active Program
Aims: To evaluate the effect of a 12-week education and exercise program on HbA1c, blood pressure and quality of life in patients diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, or who were obese or deemed at risk of developing diabetes in the future
Introduction: The health of people in Oldham is generally worse than the England average. Local priorities include supporting people to take more control over their lives, increasing levels of community engagement and so reducing levels of behavior that are a risk to good health. Oldham CCG commissioned “Outta Skool”, a local community social enterprise, to deliver the Let’s Get Active program.
Method: Over the first 2 to 3 weeks, patients were given intensive support to motivate and introduce them to fitness classes, healthy cooking and nutrition, and food hygiene workshops. Patients were required to attend 3 exercise sessions per week.100 patients were enrolled in the program between September 2017 and April 2018. Data collected included:
• Gender
• Age
• Height, weight, and BMI
• HbA1c
• Systolic and diastolic blood pressure
• PHQ-9 scores
• Patient satisfaction survey
Results
100 patients participated between September 2017 and April 2018; 87 females and 13 males met the eligibility criteria of patients at least 18 years old who had type II diabetes mellitus, were obese or were deemed at risk of type II diabetes mellitus. The average age was 49 years and ranged from 32 to 75 years. The majority of patients were South Asian (85%) or White (10%). 7 patients were current smokers.
Objective Measures: Patients on the 12-week programme experienced, on average, a 4.4 mmol/mol reduction in HbA1c, a 5.2 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure and a 3.5 mmHg reduction in diastolic blood pressure. On average, patients lost 2 kg and reduced their BMI by 0.8 kg/m2.
Subjective Measures: There was a very strong trend away from clinically depressed PHQ-9 scores. Overall, 73 of the 100 participants started with a PHQ-9 score of ≥10 but had reduced this figure to <9 by Week 12.
A video about the programme is here for you to watch :
Cost Effectiveness:
Results from the LGA 12-week programme show an overall 5.6% relative risk reduction of cardiovascular events using QRISK. Independent Social Profit Report showed total social and economic impact created through the program is £467,301 = Social Profit Ratio of £5.84 from an annual investment of £80,000.
The improvement of depression symptoms described above is also anticipated to reduce social and medical costs in patients who participate in the programme. The programme is, therefore, extremely effective use of resources.
Sustainability:
Of 50 patients followed up from their participation in the LGA programme in 2015/16, data were available for 45 patients. The average continued weight loss to April 2018 was 2.26 kg, with 42 patients losing further weight and 3 patients staying the weight they were at Week 12. The results from the programme are therefore highly sustainable.
For more information contact Neil Jenkinson (07906 583741) or Moinul Islam (07713 647494)
You can read the full project report here