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Family Heart Disease Study
Written by Communications Team   

Unique project into family heart disease study which aims to prevent unnecessary death or illness

A unique service aimed at preventing death or illness from heart disease – where there is a family history of the disease - has been launched at Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust.

People with no known heart disease but who are the blood relatives of patients who have been admitted with premature heart disease are being invited to take advantage of the opportunity, and possibly alter the course of their life! Family members include the patient’s own children, brothers and sisters as well as the patient’s parents.
 



Two very determined healthcare professionals! Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust Cardiac Research Co-ordinator Dr Martha Wrigley and Cardiac Specialist Nurse Liz Murphy hope that over the next two years that close blood relatives of young cardiovascular patients can help prevent their own chances of having a heart attack or stroke by changing their lifestyle


 
Said the Trust’s Cardiac Research Co-ordinator Dr Martha Wrigley: “This involves male patients aged below 55 years and females aged under 65 years who have been admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of premature heart disease, most frequently following a heart attack. Their blood relatives are being invited to have a personal assessment to look at their own risk factors.

“This is unique, no other hospital in the UK offer this sort of service. This is a nurse-led and doctor-supported programme with the participant’s GPs being updated after every hospital clinic visit. It’s a two year programme with clinic sessions four - six months apart. To fit in with work and home commitments there is a choice of early morning, afternoon, early evening or Saturday morning sessions at either Ashford Hospital or St. Peter’s Hospital.”

Cardiac Specialist Nurse Sister Liz Murphy said: “We are determined to prevent unnecessary suffering from heart disease. In many cases the patients we see in cardiac rehabilitation have no known heart disease before their emergency admission to hospital but often have a history of cardiac problems in their family.

“We give the patients information to pass on to their relations inviting them to enrol in our prevention project. Firstly this involves looking at their risk factors. We give them an assessment which includes testing: blood pressure; heart rate; blood lipid and glucose levels; physical measurements and a lifestyle assessment discussing with them their smoking, physical activity, diet and how they cope with stress.”

The emphasis of the project is on lifestyle issues, which account for the majority of risk associated with heart and stroke illness. Education and support are also key components to the clinic sessions where those attending are given ample opportunity to learn and discuss issues of concern with cardiac nurse specialists.

Even if they have no apparent problem these project participants will be invited to join the two-year programme and they are encouraged to bring along other family members for education and mutual support. A multidisciplinary team is involved in the cardiac rehabilitation education sessions including three specialist nurses, two cardiovascular specialist physiotherapists, one specialist fitness instructor, dieticians and pharmacists.

If there are any findings of concern, their GP arranges any medication necessary as well as referrals to specialist clinics, if it is needed by the programme participants.

Said Dr Wrigley: “According to the national statistics Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death or illness in the UK and about 40% of all deaths in the UK are due to cardiovascular disease. The majority of problems are preventable by simple lifestyle changes, and medication where necessary.

“Until now the close blood relatives of patients with heart disease have been a neglected group. We are keen to find out whether the cardiac experience of one person can be the catalyst to preventing coronary disease in close members of their family and we think this is very exciting and valuable work.”

This project – known as the Family Ashford and St. Peter’s Prevention Project (FASPP Project) is entirely NHS funded and is a collaboration with The Surrey Heart & Stroke Network which is based on the St. Peter’s Hospital campus.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 03 September 2009 11:48 )