The second phase of a study launched by the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) will aim to monitor developments in cardiovascular health over an eight year period as a means of fighting against heart disease.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, even though an estimated 80% of these deaths could be avoided. In Luxembourg alone, deaths linked to cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks (myocardial infarction) and stroke represented the leading cause of mortality in 2014, accounting for 33% of male and female deaths in the Grand Duchy.
These diseases are caused by an accumulation of non-modifiable genetic risk factors, such as gender, age, ethnicity and family history; as well as modifiable risk factors related to the environment and the smoking, eating and physical activity habits of individuals, the modifications of which could see up to 80% of these kinds of deaths prevented.
"These risk factors, sometimes silent for years, can be detected and risks reduced as part of preventive actions supported by regular surveillance of the population," advocated Professor Saverio Stranges, Scientific Director of the 'Population Health Department'. "Better prevention of cardiovascular disease also has a major impact in reducing the social and economic burden of these diseases on society."
It was in this context that the first stage of the ORISCAV-LUX study was conducted in 2007 and 2008 by LIH, with the intention of developing a precise background on the heart health of the 18-69 demographic of the Luxembourg population. The first stage revealed that a number of pathological disorders that can affect cardiovascular health were untreated, with examinations highlighting the fact that over 60% of participants examined in the study found to be suffering from high blood pressure were unaware of this.
"The second wave of the ORISCAV-LUX study appealed to people who had already participated in the first ORISCAV-LUX study in 2007-2008," explained Dr. Ala'a Alkerwi, Project Leader and Principal Investigator of the study at the Department of Population Health. "It will be conducted from December 2015 to March 2017 and will mobilise in total more than 1,000 people."
The second stage has been launched nationwide with the support of the Ligue Medico-sociale and health centres, and will monitor developments in cardiovascular health between 2008 and 2016 to collect essential information for the implementation of preventive actions to meet the health needs of the population. Participants are personally contacted through the post and asked to take part in clinical examinations of cardiac, physical and cognitive functions and a data collection questionnaire. A personal health check will be issued afterwards.
The project has piqued the interest of Her Royal Highness Princess Tessy of Luxembourg, who did her internship at the Luxembourg Institute of Health last summer.
"The LUX-ORISCAV team did a tremendous job in the first phase of the study," HRH Princess Tessy commented. "The work of the LIH on this project is a real opportunity for Luxembourg, and I hope that the participants will show the same commitment to the second phase of the study."
