Cardiovascular Disease Initiative
BACKGROUND TO THE INITIATIVE
(modified from a leaflet written by Loiuse Rogerson. Trafford PCT)
UK guidelines recommend that all people aged 40 or more should have a routine cardiovascular risk assessment. A ‘risk factor calculator’ is commonly used by doctors and nurses to assess the risk of you developing a cardiovascular disease such as: heart attack, angina, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Treatment is recommended if you have a high risk.
Who should have their NHS Health Check?
All adults aged between 40 and 74 who do not have established cardiovascular disease.
What does the NHS Health Check involve?
Our practice has already used a software risk calculator called the "Framingham Score" to allocate a very approximate risk number to all our patients aged 40 -74. The reason for the score being approximate is that we need to have a couple of blood pressures, a record of a recent cholesterol and blood sugar test, recent height and weight etc in order to calculate a more reliable risk score. If you haven't got these recorded, the computer puts in an estimated BP, cholesterol etc based on averages readings in the UK. You can see that this may well not be accurate.
For the last 8 months we have concentrated on inviting those patients with an ESTIMTATED RISK of 20% over 10 years to have an up to date blood test, followed by a consultation at the surgery. We'll measure your blood pressure, weight etc and we should be able to work out a personalised Framingham Risk Score that is more reliable.
What does the assessment score mean?
You are given a score as a % chance. So, for example, if your score is 30% this means that you have a 30% chance of developing a cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years. This is the same as saying a 30 in 100 chance (or a 3 in 10 chance). In other words, in this example, 3 in 10 people with the same risk factors that you have will develop a cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years. Note: the score cannot say if you will be one of the three. It cannot predict what will happen to each individual person. It just gives you the odds.
You are said to have a:
- High risk – if your score is 20% or more. (That is, a 2 in 10 chance or more of developing a cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years.)
- Moderate risk – if your score is 10 – 20% (between 1 in 10 and 2 in 10 chance).
- Low risk – if your score is less than 10% (less than a 1 in 10 chance).
This year (2010) we will continue contacting you if your ESTIMATED RISK is over 20% but we will also be inviting those with a MODERATE esitmate risk of 10-20%. Once we have worked out your more personalised risk score, we can let you know what, if anything you need to do to reduce your risk. Lifestyle risk factors may need to be tackled. These include:
- Stop smoking if you smoke
- Eat a healthy diet
- Keep your weight and waist in check
- Take regular physical activity
- Cut back if you drink a lot of alcohol.
If medication for blood pressure or cholesterol etc is required we can organise this with you.
Next year we will be contacting people with an ESTIMATED RISK of less than 10%.
How will we contact you?
We have a system which will flag you up if your ESTIMATED RISK is either 10 -20% or if it exceeds 20%.
If you have repeat prescriptions, you may get a note and a blood test form with your presctiption, and be asked to make an appointment for your check-up. If you ring for an appointment you may be asked if you would mind having your blood tests done etc. Also, if you are in with your Doctor, or Sister Brayzier, and time allows, we may carry out part of the assessment there and then, plus give you your blood forms. Later in the year, if you have not had reason to contact the practice, we will write to you and offer you your assessment.
Dr. J. Cranston |
