A chara, – As a London-based but Irish-trained preventive cardiologist, I have to agree with the criticisms levelled at George Lee's recent programme Heart of the Matter (Health + Family, March 26th). While the topic of heart disease in Ireland was utterly valid, I can only wonder what led RTÉ to produce a programme that was so partisan.
CT calcium scoring of course has it merits, but robust clinical evidence for widespread screening using this test does not yet exist. It is for exactly that reason that it does not feature as part of UK guidelines (contrary to what one American cardiologist claimed) nor is it likely to in the foreseeable future as a routine measure (I am part of the UK guideline development group).
As Dr Angie Brown from the Irish Heart Foundation so rightly stated, let’s get the basics right first and start with at least every Irish adult knowing their cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
Touting a one-sided view of a test that: costs more than most people’s property tax; is only available in private hospitals; and has been not yet been shown to prevent heart attacks on a wider scale is in my opinion irresponsible and falls short of standards that I would expect from our national broadcaster. – Is mise,
Dr SUSAN CONNOLLY,
Consultant Cardiologist,
Director Cardiovascular
Prevention and
Rehabilitation Services,
Imperial College Healthcare
NHS Trust,
Fulham Palace Road,
London, England.