Cardiovascular Health - Q3 2021

Q3 2021 | A promotional supplement distributed on behalf of Mediaplanet, which takes sole responsibility for its content

Read more at www.healthawareness.co.uk

A Mediaplanet campaign focused on

Cardiovascular Health

02

“[Digital Healthcare] can widen or narrow the existing gap in accessible and affordable healthcare.”

10

~ Dr Charmaine Griffiths, CEO, British Heart Foundation

~ Fausto Pinto, President, World Heart Federation

Stress

“World Heart Day... provides an opportunity to stop and look back on the immense progress we’ve made.”

Sleep

Activity

Nutrition

It all fits together

A PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MEDIAPLANET, WHICH TAKES SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS

IN THIS ISSUE

“Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone of any age at anytime and anywhere.” ~Trudie Lobban MBE CEO and Founder, Arrhythmia Alliance

Improving cardiovascular health through digital care

Page 06

From wearable devices to voice-activated medical assistants, the digital sphere is teeming with breakthroughs that can make a difference for the world’s growing incidence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

“Hypertension is a leading risk factor for premature death.” ~Dr Peter Green CVDPREVENT Workstream 3 Clinical Lead, NHS Benchmarking Network

Page 08

“There are around 7.6 million people living with heart and circulatory diseases in the UK.” ~Dr Charmaine Griffiths CEO, British Heart Foundation

Page 10

@HealthawarenessUK

I

f, as the saying goes, “our health is our wealth,” then we must invest in digital healthcare for everyone to tackle the world’s leading killer, cardiovascular disease (CVD). More than 18 million deaths occur annually from CVD, many of them in low- to middleincome countries. Digital healthcare is not a salve for all health woes, but it can widen or narrow the existing gap in accessible and affordable healthcare.

Being ‘well-connected’ ‘Well-connected’ in the usual sense may imply special treatment or favours; in our digital world, it is all about equity. Indeed, increasingly, to be well is affected by our ability to be connected via some technological means, encompassing tools from a basic landline to hand-held heart monitoring devices.

Wearable devices include smartwatches and more sophisticated tools that read the wearer’s data via embedded microchips and sensors. Other examples include hand-held or chest-applied electrocardiogram (ECG) devices attached to smartphones that can record heart rhythm and help diagnose irregular heartbeat when it involves, for instance, atrial fibrillation, which can have serious consequences, such as stroke. In some cases, they can even take images from the heart using ultrasound technology.

Smartphone cameras can be used to monitor blood pressure and connecting pharmacies on a common mobile platform has aided their participation in patient management. In 2019, the wearables market grew by 89% before seeing a decrease in 2020.

@MediaplanetUK

A chance for damage control It is estimated that in the least developed countries (LDCs), 17% of the rural population has no mobile coverage, with only a 2G network covering 19% of the rural population.

The road to an even playing field must entail investment, infrastructure, education and privacy protocols. Weaving digital literacy into education efforts will increase comfort levels for patients and health workers who might not be used to technology as a health resource.

If a positive outcome of the pandemic exists, it could be the wider uptake of digital tools as an additional aid in healthcare. The biggest winner could be within reach: that all means, digital or traditional, are accessible to the most vulnerable and in need. Our future is an opportunity to do damage control, to correct past mistakes of unequal access to affordable care and save many a beating heart.

#UseHeart

WRITTEN BY

Fausto Pinto President, World Heart Federation (WHF), Professor of Cardiology and Head of the Cardiovascular Department, University Hospital de Santa Maria/CHULN in Portugal and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon

Contact information: uk.info@mediaplanet.com or +44 (0) 203 642 0737

Please recycle

Project Manager: McKenna Doyle mckenna.doyle@mediaplanet.com Business Development Manager: Ciara Barker Managing Director: Alex Williams Head of Business Development: Ellie McGregor Head of Production: Kirsty Elliott Designer: Thomas Kent Design & Content Assistant: Aimee Rayment Digital Manager: Harvey O’Donnell Paid Media Manager: Jonni Asfaha Social & Web Editor: Henry Phillips Digital Assistant: Carolina Galbraith Duarte All images supplied by Gettyimages, unless otherwise specified

02

MEDIAPLANET

READ MORE AT HEALTHAWARENESS.CO.UK

A PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MEDIAPLANET, WHICH TAKES SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS

How wearables can help improve cardiovascular health Wearable devices are being used as part of a cardiology programme “Our Hearts Our Minds” to support patients at risk of, or who have a cardiovascular condition.

Through the work we’ve been doing with this programme, we are continuing to develop ways to better understand patients’ behaviours enabling us to tailor our intervention for the individual patient.

READ MORE AT HEALTHAWARENESS.CO.UK

I

n Northern Ireland, wearable devices are being used to help remotely deliver an innovative programme for cardiovascular patients during the pandemic. The ‘Our Hearts Our Minds’ programme was set up in 2019 by Dr Susan Connolly, Consultant Cardiologist at the Western Health and Social Care Trust as part of the Department of Health’s Transformation agenda.

The 12-week programme is delivered by a skilled multidisciplinary team and aims to support cardiovascular patients in making healthier lifestyle choices, ensure they’re on appropriate medication for their blood pressure and cholesterol, as well as promoting psychological well-being.

COVID-19 and virtual monitoring During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Connolly rapidly transitioned the fully face-to-face programme to a virtual platform which includes video assessments, use of a wearable device and virtual group education sessions.

Patients in the programme are invited to use their Fitbit smartwatch and share their data with their clinical team, including their physical activity such as steps and active minutes, which is also viewable via a custom dashboard. The dashboard allows the care team to provide tailored physical activity advice and share motivational messages through the Fitbit app.

Patients are also able to use the app to log their weight, body mass index (BMI) and food intake to share with the clinical team.

As a result of Dr Connolly’s work in successfully transitioning the programme to a fully remote offering, she has been shortlisted for a Heart Hero Award by the British Heart Foundation with the winner set to be announced on World Heart Day on September 29.

Dr Connolly comments, “Over 600 patients have now benefitted from the virtual programme and early analysis suggests that it achieves similar clinical and patient outcomes compared to an in-person programme, across both lifestyle and medical risk factors, including increases in physical activity based on daily step count and active minutes.

Patient feedback on the programme has been exceptionally positive. Our move to a virtual platform meant we could continue to deliver high quality preventive care but in a way that kept patients and staff safe. It has also opened our eyes to the value of remote monitoring for healthcare professionals and for patients, in terms of both the convenience and motivation it provides.

“Through the work we’ve been doing with this programme, we are continuing to develop ways to better understand patients’ behaviours enabling us to tailor our intervention for the individual patient.”

“Working with clinical partners to help to improve outcomes for people with cardiometabolic diseases, particularly hypertension and diabetes is a key focus for us,” says Nicola Maxwell, Head of Fitbit Health Solutions in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

“Within this programme we are able to give people a better view of their activity, sleep and other health metrics that can help empower them in managing their day to day wellbeing. We are also working to harness innovative technologies that can lead to better condition management and potentially decrease the burden on the healthcare system,” says Maxwell.

Heart health innovation Fitbit pioneered heart rate tracking on the wrist with PurePulse technology and it continues to develop innovative tools that help people better understand and manage their heart health. Its electrocardiogram (ECG) app,1 which received regulatory clearance from the U.S. FDA and the CE marking in the EEA in September 2020, measures the electrical activity of the heart. It is designed for users who want to assess their heart rhythm for atrial fibrillation (AFib) in the moment and review the reading later with their doctor. AFib is a common irregular heart rhythm and can increase the risk of serious complications like stroke.2 It affects around 1.6 million people in the UK and increases the risk of stroke by five times compared to the general population.3

WRITTEN BY Dr Susan Connolly Consultant Cardiologist and Clinical Lead for the Our Hearts, Our Minds Programme

WRITTEN BY Nicola Maxwell Head of Fitbit Health Solutions in Europe, Middle East and Africa

Paid for by Fitbit

References 1. The Fitbit ECG app is only available in select countries and with select Fitbit products; not intended for use by people under 22 years old. See fitbit.com/ecg for additional details.

2. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/conditions/atrial-fibrillation 3. https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/ research/atrial-fibrillation-the-big-picture

Find out more at fitbit.com/global/ uk/technology/ecg

MEDIAPLANET

03

A PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MEDIAPLANET, WHICH TAKES SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS

How translational research is providing patients with better treatment options Ground-breaking treatments for cardiac patients are being developed via an innovative link between researchers and clinicians at the Bristol Heart Institute, part of the world-leading University of Bristol.

C INTERVIEW WITH Gianni Angelini BHF Professor of Cardiac Surgery, University of Bristol SPREAD WRITTEN BY Mark Nicholls

hallenging medical issues faced by patients are being addressed in the science laboratories of the institute that, over the past two decades, have seen ground-breaking translational cardiovascular research deliver better treatment options for thousands of patients.

Different disciplines Bristol Heart Institute (BHI) which is part of the University of Bristol was established in the mid-1990s. Director of the Institute, Gianni Angelini, says, in some examples the groundbreaking research has “completely changed practice” in adult and paediatric cardiac surgery.

“One of the strengths of the institute is the combination of people from different disciplines – basic scientists, clinicians, engineers, epidemiologists and statisticians,” adds Professor Angelini.

The research, often with techniques that started from isolated cells in the laboratory, can see scientists “unravel the mechanisms” of a clinical

problem, advance them to clinical trials, and on toward implementation into practice.

One of the strengths of the institute is the combination of people from different disciplines.

Close links Two examples include developing a new approach to reduce heart damage during cardiac surgery and harvesting cells from a mother’s placenta and umbilical cord to support surgery in children born with severe cardiac abnormalities.

The links between research institute and hospital – which include a laboratory floor in the hospital – enables scientists to work closely with cardiac surgeons, cardiologists and patients.

Stem cell hope for congenital heart disease patients Stem cell therapy and tissue engineering are offering new hope for longer-term treatment solutions for children with congenital heart disease (CHD).

C INTERVIEW WITH Massimo Caputo BHF Professor of Congenital Heart Surgery, University of Bristol

hildren born with congenital heart disease face the prospect of multiple operations as their bodies grow.

Synthetic materials to correct defects do not grow with their bodies, rapidly degenerate and need replacing, meaning children undergo three or four operations as they grow into young adults. But tissue engineering and stem cell therapy research are offering an innovative solution.

Massive progress Massimo Caputo, BHF Professor of Congenital Cardiac Surgery at the University of Bristol, says the massive progress in child cardiac surgery over the last three decades with increased survival rates has created a new problem.

“These children come back for more operations because the material we use in surgery to correct and restore the anatomy is prosthetic and rapidly fails,” he adds.

Consequently, it does not grow with the child and can degenerate, meaning it needs replacing with repeated high

04

MEDIAPLANET

risk open-heart operations. These can lead to psychological, as well as general health problems with the repeated surgeries.

Stem cells Professor Caputo is working on research that focuses on using stem cells to bio-engineer tissues that ‘grow’ with the patient to avoid those repeated operations.

Coupled with 3D printing and bioprinting to create accurate anatomical models of the material, the approach uses cells harvested from the mother’s umbilical cord as a diagnosis of CHD can be made during pregnancy.

Working with an NHS-approved gene and cell therapy unit at the Royal Free Hospital in London, a collaborative research programme (sponsored by the British Heart Foundation, Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust and the Linder Foundation) aims to produce stem cell-seeded grafts that can be inserted during the corrective open-heart procedures in children born with heart defects.

Donor stem cells from umbilical cord tissue have been recently used at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children on a sick baby, who is now aged one and thriving. But while the safety of the cell approach has been shown, the research has to undergo further efficacy trials and regulatory steps.

Clinical need COVID-19 has slowed the research, but Professor Caputo hopes a product will be ready for trials in children within the next two years, with the aim of making such therapy more broadly available to treat CHD. “We do need to find a better biological solution for the material we use in congenital heart surgery and we feel that stem cell technology is the way forward,” he adds.

“There is a real clinical need. If we do not find a better solution, we will really struggle to improve the longterm quality of life for these children.”

Find out more at bristol.ac.uk/bhi

READ MORE AT HEALTHAWARENESS.CO.UK

A PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MEDIAPLANET, WHICH TAKES SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS

Using patients’ stories and knowledge to advance cardiovascular research Clinicians and researchers value the knowledge of patients and the public to add new dimensions to their cardiovascular research.

P

atients and the public are playing an increasing role in cardiovascular research through closer collaborations with clinicians, researchers and artists.

The approach at the BHI is supporting clinical training and medical research as well as helping patients have a better understanding, and acceptance, of their heart conditions.

Techniques, such as 3D printing of hearts, are already showing benefits for patients and researchers.

Clinical consultation Dr Giovanni Biglino, a Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics at the BHI, aims to involve patients more actively in research.

Printing a 3D model of a patient’s heart from routine medical images can support clinical decision-making and training and provide a different way for a clinical team to approach a complex case.

“When a 3D-printed heart model is presented to a patient or family in a clinical consultation, it can also help with explaining the procedure and encouraging patients to ask questions,” he explains.

Refining research questions Involving patients in studies can help refine cardiovascular research questions or pose different ones.

Patients can also examine study data, while broader public engagement can identify research priorities.

It takes resources to train patients to become involved, but Dr Biglino believes the investment is worthwhile because of the added benefit.

For researchers and clinicians, it gives focus and relevance to research which can ultimately enhance patient care.

INTERVIEW WITH Dr Giovanni Biglino Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics, University of Bristol

Creative collaboration The BHI also works with artists and musicians in its research approach, allowing “conversations to be had in a different way,” says Dr Biglino.

One project saw congenital heart disease patients sharing visions of their hearts, which delivered a series of narratives that were adapted into an exhibition. Accounts were also set to music and will be translated into a digital animation.

Dr Biglino says involving patients in cardiovascular research is about “collaboration, listening and being creative” as well as empowering patients, and ensuring they benefit from the experience.

Predicting cardiovascular disease: the first step to prevention?

Researchers are harnessing the detail delivered by population data to predict people who could be at risk of heart disease.

D INTERVIEW WITH Deborah Lawlor Professor of Epidemiology, University of Bristol

etailed population data is playing an increasing role in predicting those most at risk of cardiovascular disease and what the key causes of disease are.

Epidemiologists can use this for early detection, or identify preventive measures, and work with physicians to ensure the best outcomes for different heart conditions, such as congenital heart disease.

Deborah Lawlor, Professor of Epidemiology and BHF Chair in Clinical Epidemiology and Cardiovascular Science at the BHI, explains that clinical epidemiology (population health research) is a crucial part of cardiovascular research at the University of Bristol.

READ MORE AT HEALTHAWARENESS.CO.UK

Risk factors Her team investigates ways to slow the progression of heart and circulatory diseases and understand how such diseases can develop across a life span.

One particular focus is on how cardiovascular disease might manifest itself during pregnancy – factoring in levels of smoking, obesity and other health aspects – and how that might relate to future heart disease in mother and child.

Clinical epidemiology supports understanding risk factors for heart conditions, with that approach having been boosted significantly in the last 15 years with large cohorts, such as the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (also known as Children of the 90s), Born in Bradford and UK Biobank enabling researchers to follow women and their children over their lives.

Exciting time to be part of research Professor Lawlor says as well as social and health data, genotype and factors that might change how genes are expressed can be measured along with proteins, metabolites and medications on a large scale in human studies of heart disease via cost-effective high throughput platforms.

“It is an incredibly exciting time to be doing epidemiology as we can get a much better understanding of human physiology and factors related to heart disease,” she adds.

Professor Lawlor, who supervises several early career researchers supporting a new generation of epidemiologists in a fast-moving field, emphasises the importance of collaboration with other research groups, cardiologists and cardiac surgeons.

Spread paid for by University of Bristol

MEDIAPLANET

05

A PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MEDIAPLANET, WHICH TAKES SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS

For every minute that passes after a sudden cardiovascular arrest, the chance of survival decreases by 10%, so an AED needs to be used within the first few minutes.

Do not let the ones you love be the ones you lose There are calls for automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) to be as commonplace as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.

This life-saving equipment should be accessible 24/7.

E

ach year in the UK, 100,000 people die from sudden cardiac death, with most of these deaths being avoidable. In particular, in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), the use of an AED is key to saving a life. A SCA is not a heart attack. A SCA is when the heart stops completely because of a fatal arrhythmia (heart rhythm disorder) whereas a heart attack is when the blood supply to the heart is blocked.

WRITTEN BY Trudie Lobban MBE, Founder and CEO Arrhythmia Alliance

06

MEDIAPLANET

Increase chances of survival Whilst CPR is vitally important after an SCA, it only increases the chance of survival to 9%. An AED plus CPR increases the chance of survival to well over 50%. Yet, unlike smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, AEDs are not legal requirements. Also, do we even know where our nearest AED is? Given a SCA can happen at any time, anywhere, to anyone, having 24/7 access to an AED is essential. The use of an AED, whilst waiting for the paramedics to arrive, can mean the difference between life and death.

An AED is easy to use, no training is required as the machine talks to you. It will only shock the heart back into its normal rhythm if it detects a fatal arrhythmia.

Arrhythmia Alliance’s Defibs Save Lives campaign has

long provided placement of AEDs that are accessible 24/7 in communities. Yet, more is needed. For every minute that passes after a SCA, the chance of survival decreases by 10%, so an AED needs to be used within the first few minutes.

Ambulance services across the country work in collaboration with Arrhythmia Alliance to list the known AEDs on their system. Therefore, when someone calls, they can be told where they can locate their nearest AED. Ambulance services can only do this if they know where the publicly accessible AEDs are.

An AED is easy to use, no training is required as the machine talks to you. It will only shock the heart back into its normal rhythm if it detects a fatal arrhythmia.

Improving AED accessibility We want to do even more and ensure that AEDs are as commonplace as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers.

AEDs can be placed outside shops, gyms, village halls and offices. They must be outside because an AED is of no use if it is inside a locked building.

A SCA can happen to anyone of any age, at any time and anywhere.

Everyone should know where their nearest AED is so that in the event of a SCA, they can use it to help save a life.

Arrhythmia Alliance is calling for everyone to find their nearest AED and register them on to the national database, scan the QR code below

For more information, DefibsSaveLives.org

READ MORE AT HEALTHAWARENESS.CO.UK

A PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MEDIAPLANET, WHICH TAKES SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS

Helping to make every surgery a diagnostic centre through telemedicine Telemedicine is reducing cardiac referral times using electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis within surgeries with the help of remote experts for interpretation and analysis.

A WRITTEN BY Joshua Rowe CEO, Broomwell Healthwatch

12 lead ECG is the primary diagnostic tool used in most cardiac cases. However, most GPs do not specialise in this particular sub-speciality.

Therefore, patients are often referred to the secondary sector for an ECG, resulting in delays in diagnosis. Reliance on computer-interpretation is prohibited by the cardiology community as there are seen to be far too many errors.

ECG analysis in primary care Services are now available that can enable GPs to provide faster results by working with experts virtually. Surgery nurses and healthcare assistants will record an ECG. The recordings are then transmitted via the telephone or digitally to the Broomwell Healthwatch centre where expert clinicians will give the surgery an immediate analysis and interpretation – together with management advice, where appropriate.

Apart from the obvious convenience to patients, reducing delays and avoiding referral times, GPs and clinical teams are able to make immediate, better-informed diagnoses and triage decisions, which greatly enhances the delivery of diagnostics and medicine.

Increased benefits for all The provision is a win-win for everyone. It is positive for patients as it is immediate and convenient. It benefits

GPs as it enables them to make an immediate diagnosis.

Moreover, it is advantageous for the NHS because it is cheaper than such provision in secondary care.

Ambulatory ECGs There is a similar service available for ambulatory ECGs, 24-hour tapes (Holters) and digital loop monitors. As the service uses the same devices and software as those used by most hospitals in the UK, the service can also easily handle ‘overflows’ from the secondary sector.

The service is consultant led, with rigorous clinical governance. Entrance exams, frequent refresher training and annual examinations are all required for continued training and development of staff.

The success of the service has been confirmed by extremely positive feedback (100%) from GPs and patients and by numerous major NHS Audits (which also confirmed significant financial savings for CCGs) and numerous National Awards. The service has an extensive track record, having successfully interpreted over 1,800,000 ECGs servicing 100+ CCGs, LCNs and NHS Trusts.

Broomwell Healthwatch is a service which provides immediate expert interpretation of 12 lead ECGs so that every surgery can become a cardiac diagnostic centre. The service operates 24/7, 365 days a year so it is also ideal for out-of-hours services. Find out more at www.broomwellhealth.com or contact at health@broomwell.com

Patients have a key role to play in their heart health

early detection of those at risk of CVD is crucial.

“This is a massive opportunity to improve the health of the nation,” he says. “CVD impacts on people’s quality of life, makes them more dependent on the NHS and their families and has a health and social care cost of £7.4 billion each year.”

Early detection, preventive measures and lifestyle changes are key steps in helping tackle the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and reducing the risk people have of heart attack and stroke.

P

rimary care, patients and the wider community all have a critical role to play in working together to reduce the burden of CVD.

INTERVIEW WITH Dr Raj Thakkar GP and National Primary Care Cardiac Pathways, Co-Lead NHS England WRITTEN BY Mark Nicholls

Long term plan The NHS Long Term Plan sets out clear milestones in preventing up to 150,000 heart attacks and strokes over the next decade, as well as improving community first response and access to cardiac rehabilitation.

However, Dr Raj Thakkar, a GP and National Primary Care Cardiac Pathways Co-Lead at NHS England, underlines the importance of prevention within this.

“In the UK, there are about 7.6 million people with CVD and with an

READ MORE AT HEALTHAWARENESS.CO.UK

Paid for by Broomwell Healthwatch

ageing population CVD prevalence is going to increase,” he says. “But this is largely preventable. If people with cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure are identified early and managed effectively, we can significantly reduce the burden of disease on patients, and indeed on health and social care.”

Early detection People in deprived areas and those with severe mental illness are more at risk of CVD, but by controlling high blood pressure, for example, across a population of 50,000 patients, it is estimated that regular blood pressure monitoring at home could prevent up to 500 heart attacks and 745 strokes over five years. Dr Thakkar says that

CVD prevention – a shared responsibility It is fantastic, continues Dr Thakkar, that there is an emerging shared purpose to empower patients to focus on CVD across the broader primary care network including pharmacies, social prescribers and the wider community including employers, creating an integrated mechanism for delivery of cardiovascular health.

“We need to empower patients and teach them about focusing on cardiovascular risk factors such as checking blood pressure, and the value of smoking cessation and weight loss.”

COVID-19 affected cardiovascular health with patients avoiding hospitals and a rise in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, yet it also saw an increase in digital innovation such as remote monitoring with patients checking blood pressure at home and undergoing cardiac rehabilitation digitally, it’s essential to build on that to reduce CVD and ease pressure on the NHS.

Paid for by BAYER

This article was developed and sponsored by Bayer.

PP-UN-CAR-GB-0042 / September 2021

Find out more at bayer.co.uk

MEDIAPLANET

07

A PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MEDIAPLANET, WHICH TAKES SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS

Supplying primary care with the tools to target cardiovascular health inequalities Understanding how demographic factors impact the risk of cardiovascular disease will be key to supporting primary care healthcare professionals achieve better outcomes for all.

H

ypertension is a leading risk factor for premature death.

Termed a ‘silent killer’, the World Health Organization regards hypertension as a public health problem. Primary care is key to early identification and treatment of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk conditions such as atrial fibrillation, cholesterol, chronic kidney disease and diabetes.

Termed a ‘silent killer’, the World Health Organization regards hypertension as a public health problem.

Filling the data gaps The CVDPREVENT audit will help to tackle CVD prevention by enabling primary care to work with patients to achieve better outcomes. It is recognised that there are multiple and competing pressures in primary care, especially regarding cardiovascular and population health.

The audit will help target improvement efforts to make the greatest impact by identifying groups of patients who could benefit most from better management of their conditions. The audit results will highlight where particular groups with conditions outlined are falling through the net by asking the following questions: 08

MEDIAPLANET

1. Are people with high-risk conditions being identified?

2. Are people with high-risk conditions being diagnosed?

3. Are people with high-risk conditions/ CVD being managed to guidance?

4. Are high-risk conditions/CVD being over-treated?

A key part of the analysis will be insight into how demographic factors play into the diagnosis and treatment of patients at risk of CVD. Data will be profiled by age, sex, deprivation and ethnicity to highlight with more precision where quality improvement efforts should be targeted to help reduce health inequalities.

WRITTEN BY Dr Peter Green CVDPREVENT Workstream 3 Clinical Lead, NHS Benchmarking Network

A collaborative response to CVD prevention With insights covering a range of health inequalities analysis, primary care will have the tools at their fingertips to put the pieces of the jigsaw together for a comprehensive and collaborative response to CVD prevention. This will go some way to supporting programmes such as the Academic Health Science Network’s (AHSNs) familial hypercholesterolemia child screening programme and many others.

Keep your eyes peeled for the first set of outputs from the CVDPREVENT audit later this year. You can also keep up to speed with #CVDPREVENT or scan the QR code to follow our progress

READ MORE AT HEALTHAWARENESS.CO.UK

A PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MEDIAPLANET, WHICH TAKES SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS

We all have a responsibility for looking after our heart health The NHS has set ambitious goals through its Long Term Plan to improve cardiovascular health in the UK. Industry is on hand to assist with the implementation of these goals.

The aim of early heart disease treatment is not just management – it’s actually about avoiding much more serious events – and that is good for people, their families and the NHS.

READ MORE AT HEALTHAWARENESS.CO.UK

C

ardiovascular health, like so many areas of care, has felt the impact of the NHS COVID-19 pandemic response.

Factors such as a lack of face-to-face patient contact with a GP, backlog in preventative health services, lack of access to NHS Health Check and problems accessing pathology services have left a relatively large number of people underdiagnosed, says Guy Parker, Head of Cardiovascular Franchise, General Medicines at Sanofi UK. There are currently around 7.6 million people living with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the UK and an estimation that more than half of us will get a cardiovascular disease in our lifetime.

As one of the UK’s leading causes of premature death, CVD should be a priority area for prevention and treatment believes Parker.

Jessamy Baird, General Manager of Sanofi’s General Medicines sector and Country Lead, UK & Ireland explains: “The aim of early heart disease treatment is not just management – it’s actually about avoiding much more serious events – and that is good for people, their families and the NHS.” Sharing best practice It is now almost four years that Sanofi has worked with the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) as part of the Rapid Uptake Products (RUP) Working Group.

This group aims at supporting stronger adoption and spread of

proven innovations, one of which is to improve the lipid profile of people with high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease by reducing bad cholesterol concentration in blood with the right medicine for them. As a result, this can have a significant impact on minimising the risk of developing heart diseases and improve the patient outcome.

If patients at high risk of cardiovascular events are optimally managed and routinely monitored, the collaborative approach will be a success.

Baird says: “The focus on early identification and getting people into the right treatment pathway as early as possible is about a more joined up approach across primary and secondary care, as well as raising awareness so that people know their own numbers and take a degree of personal responsibility.”

Among the early wins has been the development of technology to support primary care clinicians to keep track of patients at risk of a cardiovascular event. The reorganisation of the NHS in England is set to expand the size of GP practice lists to between 30,00050,000 patients.

Baird believes: “The UK has a great track record in the management of cardiac health, we just don’t want that to change. There are so many treatment options available - right through the spectrum of disease severity - that we just want to support the NHS to give people the best care.”

Improving identification and education Working with The Cholesterol Charity HEART UK, Sanofi has supported its Primary Care Education Programme for healthcare professionals which complements the Tackling Cholesterol Together initiative with the Accelerated Access Collaborative.

The education programme supports the ambition of the NHS Long Term Plan, with the aim to improve the identification and treatment of high-risk conditions in primary care.

Led by a team of national clinical leaders and experts in cardiovascular disease (CVD), it supports healthcare professionals to address rates of diagnosis and improve referrals at scale using new models to manage cholesterol, underpinned by an updated NICE endorsed pathway.

Everybody’s responsibility Parker says: “Everybody has a part to play in reducing risk - the NHS has its part, and as a pharma company, we have a part to play. However, people also have a personal responsibility to understand their numbers and prioritise how they manage their risk.”

INTERVIEW WITH Jessamy Baird General Manager, General Medicines BU, Country Lead, Sanofi UK & Ireland

INTERVIEW WITH Guy Parker Head of Cardiovascular & Established Products Franchise, General Medicines BU, Sanofi UK

WRITTEN BY Ailsa Colquhoun

MAT-GB-2104234 (V1.0) DOP: Sep 21 Paid for by Sanofi

Find out more at

MEDIAPLANET

09

A PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MEDIAPLANET, WHICH TAKES SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS

Reflecting on 60 years of life saving discovery and the challenges ahead Today is World Heart Day, which provides an opportunity to stop and look back on the immense progress we’ve made in saving and improving lives from heart and circulatory diseases over the last 60 years.

W WRITTEN BY Dr Charmaine Griffiths CEO, British Heart Foundation

orld Heart Day should also be a moment to recognise the significant challenge we face in preventing, treating and curing what are still the world’s biggest killers.

Today, hundreds of our loved ones will suffer heart attacks, strokes and cardiac arrests without a moment’s warning. This is an uncomfortable truth, but one that we can change based on the phenomenal progress we’ve already made.

Lifesaving discoveries Over the past 60 years groundbreaking discoveries and public health changes have transformed the prospects of people living with heart and circulatory diseases. I’m proud to say the British Heart Foundation, funded through the public’s generosity, has been integral to this progress.

Our research has contributed to the first UK heart transplant, the development of pacemakers, the use of statins to lower cholesterol and the rollout of genetic testing for inherited heart conditions.

These discoveries save lives every day. The number of people dying each year from heart and circulatory diseases in the UK has halved since the BHF was formed. But we can’t let this remarkable progress lead to complacency.

The challenge ahead There are around 7.6 million people living with heart and circulatory diseases in the UK and more than 160,000 of our loved ones still die of these conditions each year.

To make matters worse, the pandemic has had a devastating impact on all aspects of cardiovascular care from diagnosis to treatment. Worryingly, we predict that waiting lists for vital heart treatment and diagnosis could more than double within two years in England without urgent action.

10

MEDIAPLANET

Our research has contributed to the first UK heart transplant, the development of pacemakers, the use of statins to lower cholesterol and the rollout of genetic testing for inherited heart conditions.

Science remains the answer Just as science was the answer in 1961, it remains the answer today. Many of our researchers, fuelled by the public’s support, are on the cusp of making discoveries that will transform care once more.

Our work in regenerative medicine could lead to innovative treatments for heart failure by teaching the heart to repair itself. AI technologies are already leading to more effective ways to spot those most at risk of a deadly heart attack or stroke.

But this investment in science needs to be supported by Government action to resolve the growing crisis in cardiac care we face right now. Our heroic NHS needs significant long-term investment to recover from the pandemic and the Government must set out a clear plan for resolving the cardiovascular backlog.

READ MORE AT HEALTHAWARENESS.CO.UK

A PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MEDIAPLANET, WHICH TAKES SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS

Lifesaving made easier

Using a defibrillator can be easier than you think.

Just what you need when faced with a Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

Every second counts when responding as survival rates fall by 10% every minute.

Quick action by the first person on the scene can make a real difference to the outcome for a victim of SCA.*

simple fast unique For more information, please contact aed@stryker.com or visit www.strykeremergencycare.com * Cummins RO. 1989. From concept to standard of care? Review of the clinical experience with automated external defibrillators. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 18: 1269–75.

CE Class IIb (0123) | Physio-Control, Inc., 11811 Willows Road NE, Redmond, WA, 98052 U.S.A. | Toll free 800 442 1142 | strykeremergencycare.com 07/2020. Copyright © 2020 Stryker. GDR 3343034_B

READ MORE AT HEALTHAWARENESS.CO.UK

MEDIAPLANET

11

A PROMOTIONAL SUPPLEMENT DISTRIBUTED ON BEHALF OF MEDIAPLANET, WHICH TAKES SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS CONTENTS

Over the past 60 years groundbreaking discoveries and public health changes have transformed the prospects of people living with heart and circulatory disease. ~ Dr Charmaine Griffiths, CEO, British Heart Foundation

12

MEDIAPLANET

READ MORE AT HEALTHAWARENESS.CO.UK