If you're trying to lower your risk of heart disease, a little follow-up might go a long way. A new study from Germany found that patients who had follow-up consultations with their care team were more likely to reach their health goals than those who didn't.
The study included 712 people with at least one lifestyle-related risk factor for heart disease, like high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Patients were split into groups: some got standard care, others got patient-centered health materials, and some also got follow-up consultations. After 12 months, the groups with follow-up consultations had higher scores on a goal-attainment scale.
Interestingly, achieving goals didn't always mean patients were satisfied. On a 5-point scale, satisfaction scores were only around 2.8, meaning patients were only partially satisfied. Also, patients in Dresden did better than those in Hamburg or Freiburg, for reasons the study didn't explain.
This was a cluster-randomized trial, so it can show links but not prove cause and effect. Still, the results suggest that regular check-ins with a doctor or nurse could help people stick to their heart-health plans.