A FREE risk assessment for heart disease in the over-40s should be made available in the Republic, a new report has recommended.
The recommendation follows a two-year study of almost 1,500 people with no history of heart disease who were recruited in a number of community settings in the west of Ireland. The study was compiled by researchers from University Hospital Galway (UHG) and the West of Ireland Cardiology Foundation (Croí).
Just over half of those studied were found to need preventive action against heart disease. And when followed up six months later, almost a quarter had made significant health improvements, meeting European targets for cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
The Heart Smart Programme recruited people from a number of sources in the community, including farming groups, schools and traveller support groups. Workplace locations targeted by the programme included the Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT) and UHG.
Heart Smart has three components: the identification of people at high risk of heart disease who have not experienced cardiac symptoms; a 20-minute risk factor assessment and lifestyle intervention for those at risk; and a follow-up six months after the initial screening to assess progress in tackling relevant risk factors.
Some 1,491 people were recruited from counties Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Clare and Donegal during 2005 and 2006. Almost 700 people were invited back for follow-up in the local community, two-thirds of whom turned up. More than 70 per cent of people had changed their diets, while 42 per cent had increased physical activity levels. About 10 per cent had stopped smoking; however, there was no significant reduction in weight among the participants.
Commenting on the report, Dr Jim Crowley, consultant cardiologist at UHG, said: "These findings are very encouraging and demonstrate that it is possible to target high-risk individuals and motivate them to make changes and manage their risk factors for coronary heart disease."
According to the authors, Heart Smart is the first time that a primary prevention initiative targeting those with no history of cardiac disease has been carried out in the community. Significantly, 18 per cent of those assessed required urgent medical attention for raised blood pressure and symptoms such as chest pain.
While 70 per cent of those assessed were referred to their GP, some chose not to attend. Among the barriers identified by non-attenders were the cost and inconvenience of seeing a family doctor.
It also emerged that personal health was a low priority relative to other life events such as bereavement or moving house. Some of those screened said that because they had no symptoms from high blood pressure or elevated cholesterol, there was no need to attend a GP.
"Accessibility is central to the success of any cardiovascular disease prevention programme, and the attitudes and barriers that prevent people from attending general practice need to be confronted if a more client-centred service is to be offered," the report notes.