December 6, 2007 – Patients who are better informed about their risk of developing a cardiovascular disorder are more likely to adopt better lifestyles and thus reduce their bad cholesterol levels. This is the conclusion of the CHECK-UP study1.2 from the McGill University Health Center.
According to the results, treatments for high cholesterol that included continuous monitoring with a doctor were slightly more effective than regular treatments. More than 1,510 patients received a detailed report on their cardiovascular risks at each of their quarterly visit.
This report presented in particular the cardiovascular age3.4 of the patient, a concept which makes it possible to follow the evolution of the patient’s state of health. For example, the cardiovascular age of a 43-year-old smoker, who is overweight and has above average cholesterol and blood pressure, would be the same as that of a 51-year-old man. . If all the risk factors were reduced, this man would have a cardiovascular age of 42 years.
The best results of the study were obtained from patients whose cardiovascular age was furthest from their actual age.
The study mobilized 230 Canadian doctors who followed, during one year, 2,687 patients treated for hypercholesterolemia and likely to have cardiac arrest. Some of them presented several cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, smoking, sedentary lifestyle or hypertension.
Charles Désy – PasseportSanté.net
1.Grover SA, Lowensteyn I et al. Patient Knowledge of Coronary Risk Profile Improves the Effectiveness of Dyslipidemia Therapy. The CHECK-UP Study: A Randomized Controlled Trial, Archives of Internal Medicine, 2007 Nov 26; 167 (21): 2296-303.
2. The CHECK-UP study was funded by Pfizer Canada. It was designed by Professor Steven A. Grover of the McGill University Health Center and reviewed by an independent committee.
3. Cardiovascular age is determined based on age, gender, blood pressure, blood lipid levels, smoking, presence of diabetes, and history of heart problems such as heart attack. Cardiovascular age is the patient’s age minus the difference between their estimated residual life expectancy and the average residual life expectancy of Canadians of the same age and sex.
4. To calculate your cardiovascular age, visit the MonBilanSanté.com site.
