Computed tomography coronary angiography for the prevention of myocardial infarction. The SCOT-HEART 2 Trial
Doctors currently calculate a person’s risk of a future heart attack caused by coronary artery disease using a risk score based on a person’s age, gender and risk factors. If this score is high, doctors may suggest taking preventive measures – usually taking statins– to lower the person’s risk of a heart attack. Many middle-aged people have high risk scores and are treated with preventive drugs, even though they may not have coronary heart disease. BHF Professor David Newby believes that, rather than using a score, it may be better to see if they actually have signs of disease by scanning the heart. In the SCOT-HEART 2 clinical trial, his team will test if a type of heart scan that detects thickening or narrowing of the coronary arteries, is better than a score for predicting the risk of a future heart attack. Participants will have a risk score calculated and then be randomly split into two groups. One will have the current standard risk score-based treatment, whilst the other will have a CT heart scan and will be treated according to the scan results. The health of the participants will be followed for up to 8 years to monitor the number of people who go on to have a heart attack. Using a heart scan rather than a risk score could mean that only people who have evidence of coronary heart disease will be prescribed statins, and that doctors can treat people who have heart disease more confidently, adding in further treatments or heart surgery where needed.
Project details
| Grant amount | £1,015,065 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Clinical Studies |
| Application type | Clinical Study |
| Start Date | 01 January 2020 |
| Duration | 8 years |
| Reference | CS/18/4/34074 |
| Status | In Progress |
