Inequalities and missed opportunities in prevention of cardiovascular disease
Statins are proven to reduce the risk of heart and circulatory disease. They are commonly prescribed in the UK but there is strong evidence to suggest that not all people eligible for statins receive them. This means that there may be heart attacks, strokes and deaths are occurring which could be prevented. The use of statins across the UK population is dependent on three factors; the identification of people who would benefit from statins; initiation of statin use among eligible people; and continuation of statin use. Studies have shown that age, gender, or coming from a deprived area can influence whether a person takes statins. However, we don’t know if these factors are currently relevant, what other factors might be important, and how they impact the identification, initiation, and continuation steps. Dr Emily Herrett, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, will lead a project to investigate each of the three factors in detail by analysing anonymised general practice records from a UK database containing healthcare information on over 35 million people. The researchers plan to determine where, and in whom, opportunities for statin treatment are being missed, and estimate how these missed opportunities affect the occurrence of heart attacks, strokes and deaths. This research could lead to improved uptake and use of statins that could reduce the burden of heart and circulatory disease in the UK.
Project details
| Grant amount | £162,254 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 01 January 1900 |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Reference | PG/19/71/34632 |
| Status | In Progress |
