HEALTH PROGRAMME TARGETS FARMERS TO REDUCE RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE

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More than eight out of ten farmers who participated in the Farmers Have Hearts’ Cardiovascular Health Programme made lifestyle changes to improve their heart health and have reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease, a major study has revealed.

The report found that over the course of one year, 81% farmers who took part in the programme made lifestyle changes to improve their health, while 41% farmers improved their cardiovascular risk factor profile.

This led to the number of farmers with four or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) declining by 6% meaning they are less likely to have an acute cardiac event (stroke or heart attack) compared to those with more risk factors.  

Pictured at the launch of the Teagasc health programme were (l-r): Fergal Fox, HSE Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Communications, Health and Wellbeing; Pat O’Keeffe, Corporate Affairs Director, Glanbia Ireland; Prof Emer Shelley, Chair of the Irish Heart Foundation; Minister of State Frank Feighan TD, Department of Health; Diana Van Doorn, Teagasc/IT Carlow; Minister of State Martin Heydon TD, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Dr Stan Lalor, Teagasc, Director of Knowledge Transfer.

The lead author of the report, Diana van Doorn stated; “Though 6% may seem like a small change it is significant. Farmers and agricultural workers in Ireland between 17 and 64 years of age are seven times more likely to die of circulatory disease than salaried employees.

“They are a very high-risk group for CVD with 74% of all farmers at the start of our study having four or more risk factors. It is positive to see a large group of farmers having improved their lifestyle and their cardiovascular risk profile. We saw improvements in key areas like blood pressure, cholesterol, waist circumference, and the experience of stress for many of the farmers who took part,” she added.

Dr David Meredith, Teagasc Research Officer, said that “internationally there are few studies of this scale, which means that we can have confidence in the effectiveness of the programme”.

The research was undertaken by Teagasc Walsh Scholar, Diana van Doorn, based at the National Centre for Men’s Health, IT Carlow. The Irish Heart Foundation part-funded the farmer health checks carried out at livestock marts with the HSE providing the balance of funding.