TOPLINE:

Among individuals at high risk for stroke, those who participated in a 10-week primary care program that promoted involvement in everyday activities and the adoption of a healthy lifestyle had a 61% lower likelihood of remaining at high risk at 12 months.

METHODOLOGY:

• Researchers conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether a program promoting engagement in everyday activities and adoption of a healthy lifestyle (Make My Day) reduced the risk for stroke among adults at risk.
• About 122 participants aged 55-75 years were included; each had three or more high-risk factors for stroke and was recruited at three primary care rehabilitation units in Stockholm between 2022 and 2023. A scorecard classified risk for stroke as high, moderate, or low.
• Patients took part in six group sessions led by health professionals that promoted healthy habits such as physical activity and healthy cooking over the course of 10 weeks. Participants also had access to a mobile application for support.
• After analyzing lifestyle at baseline and goal setting, 63 participants (49.2% female) were randomly assigned to the intervention group, while 59 participants (50.8% female) were assigned to the control group that received the same goals but did not receive education.
• Participants were assessed at weeks 11 and 12 after the final session and at 12 months. The primary outcome was the risk for stroke at 12 months.

TAKEAWAY:

• At 12 months, the intervention group showed 61% lower odds of remaining in the high-risk category than the control group (adjusted odds ratio, 0.390; P = .043).
• Among participants at high risk for stroke at baseline, 22% in the intervention group vs 10% in the control group shifted to moderate risk, and 4% vs 0% shifted to low risk (P = .048) at follow-up.
• The intervention group consumed more fruits and greens (P = .017) and had greater participation in health-promoting activities (P = .012) than the control group.
• Both groups showed improvements in diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, and levels of physical activity at 12 months.

IN PRACTICE:

“[The study] results indicate the potential of the [Make My Day] intervention for primary healthcare settings and the potential of a comprehensive lifestyle analysis and formulating realistic individual goals,” the authors of the study wrote.

SOURCE:

The study was led by Cecilia Johnsson, Division of Occupational Therapy, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. It was published online on November 02, 2025, in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.

LIMITATIONS:

The intervention group may have been motivated to succeed for both personal benefit and to comply with the study. The sample was largely homogenous, with high education and income levels. Both groups received lifestyle analysis and goals; thus, the control group acted as an active control group.

DISCLOSURES:

This study received funding from the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare and the Research School in Health Science at Karolinska Institutet. The authors declared having no conflicts of interest.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.