Lifestyle Interventions for Four Conditions: Type 2 Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, Breast Cancer, and Prostate Cancer. Technology Assessment Report

摘要

Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, 88 percent of deaths in the United States in 2002 were attributable to chronic disease. Prevention of the onset or progression of chronic disease is often promoted as the gold standard, although the optimal interventions to achieve this have not been well documented. A number of lifestyle behaviors contribute to overall morbidity and mortality of chronic disease. Among these, physical activity and diet have been identified as two modifiable risk factors that may impact onset or progression of disease. Previous research has suggested that improved diet may decrease the burden of chronic disease, particularly coronary heart disease. However, the benefits of lifestyle modifications in preventing progression or recurrence of disease is not as well documented. In addition, it remains unclear how effective interventions are in modifying risk factors, and which chronic diseases, if any, would benefit. The chronic diseases examined in this review are type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, breast and prostate cancer. Type 2 diabetes is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2006; cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounted for more than 65 percent of all diabetic deaths. Diabetes is also the leading cause of kidney failure, nontraumatic lower-extremity amputations, and blindness among adults in the U.S.