# Short-term transitions in health-promoting lifestyle profiles following first-time percutaneous coronary intervention: a latent profile transition analysis

## TL;DR

This study examines how lifestyle behaviors change in patients after their first heart procedure and finds that psychological and social factors are linked to healthier lifestyle transitions.

## Contribution

The novel contribution is identifying distinct lifestyle profiles and their short-term transitions after PCI, and linking these to self-efficacy and social support.

## Key findings

- Three lifestyle profiles (Unhealthy, Moderately Healthy, Healthy) were consistently identified before and after PCI.
- Most patients remained in their initial lifestyle profile over 6 months, showing limited change.
- Higher self-efficacy and social support were strongly associated with transitioning to healthier lifestyles.

## Abstract

Maintaining a health-promoting lifestyle is essential for long-term cardiovascular risk management in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, how lifestyle behaviors change before and after first-time PCI, and which factors are associated with these changes, remain insufficiently understood.

This study aimed to identify patterns and short-term transitions in health-promoting lifestyle behaviors before and after first-time PCI in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

This was a prospective longitudinal study with a 6-month follow-up. A total of 603 patients with CHD from three tertiary hospitals in Zhengzhou were enrolled. Lifestyle profiles were identified at baseline (T1) and at 6 months after PCI (T2) using latent profile transition analysis (LPTA), and multinomial logistic regression was used to examine factors associated with profile transitions.

Three different lifestyles were consistently identified at both time points: Unhealthy, Moderately Healthy, and Healthy. Although some transitions toward healthier profiles were observed between T1 and T2, most participants remained in their initial profile, indicating relative stability over the 6-month period. Higher levels of general self-efficacy and perceived social support significantly increased the likelihood of positive lifestyle changes (p < 0.001). In contrast, higher BMI, lower education, and lower income were associated with reduced odds of behavioral improvement (p < 0.05).

Lifestyle behaviors among patients undergoing first-time PCI are heterogeneous and show limited change over the first 6 months following the procedure. Psychological and social resources, particularly self-efficacy and social support, are important correlates of favorable lifestyle transitions and may represent useful targets for post-PCI care and rehabilitation.