A Vancouver clinic that takes patients with heart damage and uses rigorous diet and exercise requirements in an attempt to prevent further disease graduated its first patients last month. The Atherosclerosis Reversal Clinic (ARC) at the St. Paul's Hospital is now in its second year. The first 137 patients - 32 women and 105 men - began leaving the program last month; only 5 have dropped out. The patients, aged between 40 and 65, have significantly lowered their weight and cholesterol levels, and kept them low. But it hasn't been easy.
Although the selected patients were deemed to be highly motivated, Kori Kingsley, cardiovascular nurse with ARC, says even dedicated patients have ups and downs. Those with a strong support system who prioritized demands, exercised 5 days a week and shopped for appropriate food did best. A confident outlook is also essential, says Kingsley.
She and Dr. Sammy Chan, a cardiologist with ARC, have learned that it takes up to 6 months for these patients to benefit from the program. In the initial 4 months, 6 follow-up visits with dietitians, exercise specialists and others are important motivators. Those sessions are "almost like a confessional," says Kingsley.
At the end of the 2 years, ultrasound measurements that gauge the status of patients' atherosclerosis will be compared with those taken at the outset. The staff will also look at cost-effectiveness. The ARC is funded by a $250 000, no-strings grant from a drug company.