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Cardiac services

Heart Disease - The Scale of the Problem

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) devastates lives and can affect people (often without warning) at any age, with the chances of developing the disease increasing as you get older. In fact, heart and circulatory disease is the UK's biggest killer, claiming around 238,000 lives each year in the UK.1

These statistics illustrate the huge scale of the problem, highlighting how critical it is for people of all ages and backgrounds to have their risk assessed to identify the probability of developing heart disease or suffering from a heart attack.

The good news is that the majority of heart disease is potentially preventable. The UK would see a reduction of CVD by an estimated 16% if blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels were reduced2. Although treatments continue to be developed and improved, preventing heart disease must remain a priority.

There are a wide range of risk factors associated with heart disease. Reducing the prevalence of these risks in the population could substantially reduce mortality rates3,4 as well as the overall scale of the problem.

Look after your heart

Those at intermediate risk can make small lifestyle changes, which could make a big difference to their heart health. Those at high risk may have to take medication to control their risk factors e.g. to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and other lipids.

There are a number of risk factors that you should be aware of:

  • Smoking
  • Diet
  • Physical Activity
  • Blood pressure
  • Cholesterol and other lipids
  • Inflammatory markers e.g. hs-CRP
  • Overweight/ obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Age – older people are more at risk of developing CVD
  • Gender – men often develop CVD at a younger age than women
  • Family History – people with a family history of CVD are more at risk

Find out if you are at risk

The Heart Health Check service at Knaresborough Place Medical Chambers (KPMC) offers an expert multidisciplinary team, led by NHS consultant Dr Ferruccio De Lorenzo MD PhD, CCST, providing a comprehensive programme for men and women aged 40 – 74. The service provides patients with the highest level of medical care and takes place in a reassuring and calm environment.

If you are 40 or over, you may have one or more risk factors which may need to be addressed. The Heart Health Check aims to help you find out what changes you may need to make to improve your heart health and in turn potentially prolong your life expectancy.

Ferruccio De Lorenzo

Clinical Director of the Heart Health Check programme at KPMC, Dr De Lorenzo also practices cardiovascular disease prevention at The Lipid Clinic, the Hammersmith Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. He leads the multidisciplinary team offering clinical expertise and evidence based medicine, with state-of-the-art equipment used for cardiological assessments in a high quality environment.

Dr De Lorenzo and his team offer a comprehensive specialised service on site at KPMC, so individuals will not have to be referred elsewhere. The expert team consists of:

  • Clinical Director of the Heart Health Check programme – Dr Ferruccio De Lorenzo – The programme offers cardiovascular assessments including; carotid ultrasound, echocardiography, ECG stress test, 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, EBCT Scan to evaluate Coronary calcium score and pharmacological therapy (drugs to reduce blood pressure, cholesterol and other lipids).
  • Dietician – Hala El-Shafie - On hand to give expert nutritional advice to patients to assist in the prevention of cardiovascular disease

Knaresborough Place Cardiac Diagnostics offers investigations and treatments for high risk persons and is lead by Dr Rodney Foale, Consultant Cardiologist at St Mary's Hospital, and Dr Piers Clifford, Consultant Cardiologist at Hammersmith Hospital.

The Heart Health Check programme has been designed to identify people at risk of developing heart disease or suffering from a heart attack and is based on three steps: prevention, assessment and treatment.

The Heart Health Check ‘step by step’ approach includes:

Step 1

Prevention – People’s risk is estimated using a risk calculator, a blood pressure test and a blood test, followed by a consultation with Dr De Lorenzo. This helps to evaluate the probability of someone having a major heart attack over the next 10 years. All patients are classified into ‘low’, ‘intermediate’ and ‘high’ risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Those at low risk do not need any further consultations.

Step 2

Assessment – People classified at ‘high’ risk are given a heart scan to identify calcium and blockages in the arteries, carotid ultrasound and an ECG stress test. Patients are provided with a personalised step-by-step programme to reduce the necessary risk factors.

Step 3

Treatment – High risk patients are provided with medical support in the management of blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose and weight, in line with recommended national targets.

In the UK, approximately 40% of men and 22% of women are classified at high or intermediate risk.5 In contrast to current NHS procedures, the Heart Health Check service is unique in that people classified as intermediate risk will also be treated as a priority, and receive further expert guidance to assist them in reducing their cardiovascular risk.

Dr De Lorenzo is offering an initial Heart Health Check for only £100 for a three month introductory offer (September – December 2009) For further information or to book a Heart Health Check please contact:
T: 00 44 (0) 20 7244 4200
E: heart@londonmedicalchambers.com
* Any follow up assessments or treatments will be at an additional cost.


References:

1. British Heart Foundation Statistics – www.heartstats.org
2. De Lorenzo F et al – Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis 2003; 1 Supplement 1 July: Abstract number: P0481
3. De Lorenzo F – The Lancet. False logic in the new UK screening plans. Lancet 2008; 371: 1216.
4. Kmietowicz Z. Vascular screening of over 40s will save 2,000 lives a year, says Health department. BMJ 2008; 336: 737
5. Imperial College, London – Delivering Evidence Based Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation Services in Hospitals and Primary Care