Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in 40-80year olds in Australia. Many of the risk factors though modifiable are often undiagnosed and hence untreated.
Increasingly, general practice is recognised as being well positioned but under-utilised in attempts to improve primary prevention.
The study aims to monitor the changes in CVD risk following delivery of high and low intervention strategies at the GP level.
Methods: 1200 participants in total were recruited during routine surgery attendances from 3 WA general practices since November 2006. Baseline data was collected on all. One group then received standard care as per best practice guidelines with 3 monthly follow-up to 12 months. The second group received standard care as per best practice guidelines delivered by their GP with no scheduled interim follow-up but with follow-up at 12 months after study commencement. Data on risk factor indicators was measured at each contact and a composite score on global cardiovascular risk calculated using the New Zealand Risk Calculator.
Principal Findings: In January 2008, data was recorded on 1178 participants at baseline (22 withdrew), 3 month data on 537, 6 month data on 458 and 9 month on 272 and 12 month data on 96. Interim data will be presented. While a significant proportion of the community are already known to have cardiovacular risk factors, GPs and their practice staff are ideally positioned to assess the extent of this potential morbibity and institute treatment modalities and programs to reverse and modify them
