CARDIOVASCULAR HORIZON SCANNING VOLUME 1 ISSUE 10

Strategies to screen and reduce vascular risk

Source: Heart Online First, 26 October 2009

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Date of publication: October, 2009

Publication type: Editorial

In a nutshell: This editorial compares mass and targeted screening strategies, and argues that population-wide health protection measures need supplementation with targeted screening programmes for those at particular risk.

Length of publication: 5 pages

Some important notes: You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article. Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: Heart and Education in Heart

Homocysteine lowering interventions for preventing cardiovascular events

Source: The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

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Date of publication: October, 2009

Publication type: Systematic review

In a nutshell: Elevated circulating total homocysteine (tHcy) levels are thought to be a risk factor in cardiovascular disease. These levels are influenced by blood levels of vitamins B12, B9 and B6. This review examined the clinical effectiveness of homocysteine – lowering interventions, and concluded that there was no evidence to support their use for the prevention of cardiovascular events.

Length of publication: 66 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: Cochrane Library

Prevention of cardiovascular disease: why do we neglect the most potent intervention?

Source: Heart Online First, 5 November 2009

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Date of publication: November, 2009

Publication type: Commentary

In a nutshell: Despite all the evidence of the cardiovascular benefits of exercise, physical activity has not been a serious prescription option for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Health services increasingly focus on pharmacological prevention without proper consideration of the long-term consequences of medication. The value of physical activity may need to be evaluated using different criteria to those applied in pharmacological trials. The health benefits of prescribing physical activity support its use as the standard option in preventive health care.

Length of publication: 7 pages

Some important notes: You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article. Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: Heart and Education in Heart

Let’s get moving: commissioning guidance: a new physical activity care pathway

Source: Department of Health

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Date of publication: September, 2009

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: Recent evidence has shown that just five conditions, of which one is cardiovascular disease, cost the NHS an estimated £1.8 billion annually. The Secretary of State for Health has called on the NHS to make the promotion of physical activity core business rather than a peripheral concern. The ‘Let’s get moving’ guidance presents an evidence-based behaviour charter model. It encourages local commissioning of physical activity interventions in primary care.

Length of publication: 86 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Life expectancy in relation to cardiovascular risk factors: 38 year follow-up of 19 000 men in the Whitehall study

Source: BMJ, 17 September 2009, vol 339, b3513

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Date of publication: 17 September 2009

Publication type: Journal article, research

In a nutshell: A prospective cohort study of approximately 19000 male civil servants in London, examined initially in 1967-70, and followed for 38 years. Although individuals’ risk factors changed substantially over time, differences in the baseline risk assessments were associated with reduced life expectancy of 10-15 years from age 50 years.

Length of publication: 8 pages

Some important notes: You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article. Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: National Heart Forum e-news briefing 21 Oct 2009

Cardiac rehabilitation – National Priority Projects: lessons and learning one year on

Source: NHS Improvement

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Date of publication: October 2009

Publication type: Report

In a nutshell: Cardiac Rehabilitation is a National Priority Project. The report summarises 11 local CR projects running currently, and the key lessons which may be learned from them to date.

Length of publication: 48 pages

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Aspirin ‘not recommended’ for prevention of cardiovascular disease

Source: British Cardiovascular Society

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Date of publication: 4 November 2009

Publication type: News item

In a nutshell: Many people are thought to take aspirin daily as a way of preventing heart attacks. This article reports on research indicating that aspirin should not be used routinely for primary prevention in people with no previous cardiovascular disease, as the risks/benefits may be more finely balanced than previously thought.

Length of publication: 1 webpage

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

Acknowledgement: Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin

Declines in acute myocardial infarction after smoke-free laws and individual risk attributable to secondhand smoke

Source: Circulation, 6 October 2009, vol 120(14), pp 1373-1379

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Date of publication: October 2009

Publication type: Journal article

In a nutshell: The authors, James Lightwood and Stanton Glantz, from University of California, discuss the larger-than-anticipated falls in acute MI following the introduction of strong anti-smoking legislation in American and European countries. There may have been under-estimation of the risks from passive smoking previously. The benefits of smoke-free policy appear to increase over time.

Length of publication: 7 pages

Some important notes: You will need an NHS Athens username and password to access this article. Please contact your local NHS library if you cannot access the full text. Follow this link to find your local NHS library.

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