Randomised controlled trial evaluating cardiovascular screening and intervention in general practice: principal results of British family heart study. Family Heart Study Group.

TLDR

The study aimed to assess the change in cardiovascular risk factors achievable in families over one year through a cardiovascular screening and lifestyle intervention in general practice. A nurse‑led, family‑centred programme was implemented in 26 general practices across 13 British towns, randomising 12,472 men aged 40‑59 and their partners to intervention or control, with follow‑up tailored to risk level. At one year the intervention lowered overall coronary risk scores by 16 % in men (and similarly in women), driven by reductions in systolic pressure (7 mm Hg), smoking (4 %), and cholesterol (0.1 mmol L⁻¹), with the greatest effects at the upper end of the distribution; if sustained, this would translate to only a 12 % reduction in coronary event risk, suggesting the government’s screening policy is not justified.

Abstract

To measure the change in cardiovascular risk factors achievable in families over one year by a cardiovascular screening and lifestyle intervention in general practice.Randomised controlled trial in 26 general practices in 13 towns in Britain.12,472 men aged 40-59 and their partners (7460 men and 5012 women) identified by household.Nurse led programme using a family centred approach with follow up according to degree of risk.After one year the pairs of practices were compared for differences in (a) total coronary (Dundee) risk score and (b) cigarette smoking, weight, blood pressure, and random blood cholesterol and glucose concentrations.In men the overall reduction in coronary risk score was 16% (95% confidence interval 11% to 21%) in the intervention practices at one year. This was partitioned between systolic pressure (7%), smoking (5%), and cholesterol concentration (4%). The reduction for women was similar. For both sexes reported cigarette smoking at one year was lower by about 4%, systolic pressure by 7 mm Hg, diastolic pressure by 3 mm Hg, weight by 1 kg, and cholesterol concentration by 0.1 mmol/l, but there was no shift in glucose concentration. Weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol concentration showed the greatest difference at the top of the distribution. If maintained long term the differences in risk factors achieved would mean only a 12% reduction in risk of coronary events.As most general practices are not using such an intensive programme the changes in coronary risk factors achieved by the voluntary health promotion package for primary care are likely to be even smaller. The government's screening policy cannot be justified by these results.