Outcomes & Cost-Savings

We examined baseline and 3 month medical and psychosocial characteristics of women and men enrolled in the Multi-center Lifestyle Demonstration Project. Results showed significant improvements in diet, exercise and stress management, as well as improvements in medical and psychosocial characteristics. These improvements occured in spite of gender differences in medical, psychosocial and sociodemographic status. These results suggest that programs focusing on intensive lifestyle changes can be successfully implemented in diverse regions of the United States, and may be particularly helpful for women with heart disease, who generally have higher mortality and morbidity rates than men after a cardiac event.

We examined the potential of intensive lifestyle changes as a direct alternative to revascularization procedures on patients enrolled in the Multi-center Lifestyle Demonstration Project. Results showed that patients in the experimental group were able to avoid revascularization for at least 3 years without increasing cardiac morbidity and mortality. These changes also came at a significantly lower cost than a revascularization procedure. These patients also reported experiencing reductions in angina similar to what was reported after a revascularization.

In conclusion, we have evaluated the Ornish program from a variety of different approaches with very similar conclusion. That is, the evidence to date supports the presumption that comprehensive lifestyle changes for the treatment of CAD save money, as well as improve the clinical status of the patient.