The Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), supported by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, is seeking volunteers for a study on Luxembourg’s heart health for the second wave of its ORISCAV-LUX cardiovascular monitoring programme.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in Luxembourg, even though 80% of it is preventable through simple measures. 

The first wave of the study, covering 1,432 people, was carried out in 2007-2008 and produced some worrying figures. 

Eighty percent of Luxembourg residents were exposed to one or more cardiovascular risk factors, such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, smoking, physical inactivity, poor eating habits, with some of these "silent" factors often remaining untreated because they are undiagnosed. The study also found a particularly high proportion of cases of hypertension and lipid disorders associated with high smoking rates even among 18-29 year olds.

This new wave, called ORISCAV-LUX 2, will track any changes in the state of the nation’s health, making it possible to identify risk profiles, prevent risk factors and help authorities and healthcare professionals to set up appropriate prevention measures.

For ORISCAV-LUX 2, the LIH is looking for 1000 women and men aged between 25 and 80 who live in Luxembourg to participate voluntarily in this project.

This study, without any risk to the participant and involving no medication, consists of three steps, namely a health questionnaire, the passage of a series of examinations including the taking of physical measurements — blood pressure, heart rate, height, weight, physical activity, cognitive function etc — and collecting blood and urine samples for analysis for problems related to blood fats, diabetes, cardiovascular, renal or thyroid problems.

The results of these analyses and a medical interpretation of the results of the examinations will be sent to the participants. A copy can also be sent to the doctor of their choice. The data collected will be processed anonymously.

 

For more information about the study or to participate, contact Cathy Fousse by telephone: 26 970 747, or e-mail: oriscav@lih.lu.