Atherosclerotic CVD has long been a leading cause of death in North America. By creating a program for families with premature atherosclerotic CVD, and conducting new research on the genetic characteristics of the disease, we think we can improve our understanding of the biological causes of atherosclerotic CVD.
The goal of our study is to identify and screen patients with premature atherosclerotic CVD (ages 50 years and younger for males and ages 55 years and younger for females), in addition to their first-degree relatives. Previous research has established that these first-degree relatives are at high risk, however, we believe they may not always be identified or adequately screened in BC. By identifying and intervening in this high-risk group, we believe that we can significantly reduce the burden of premature atherosclerotic CVD in BC, while discovering a great deal about the determinants of this disease.
Locations:
St. Paul’s Hospital
Vancouver General Hospital
UBC Hospital
Principal Investigators:
Dr. Liam Brunham
Dr. Simon Pimstone
Learn More About Us:
Who we areBefore screening or clinical visits are performed, a SAVE BC research coordinator will request a patient referral to the SAVE BC program.
As part of the study, index patients and first-degree relatives will be seen by medical specialists, including Dr. Liam Brunham and Dr. Simon Pimstone. A structured cardiovascular risk assessment will be performed. Based on those results, individuals with high-risk will be asked to attend annual clinical visits, whereas those with lower risk will be screened once every three years.
Specialists will review your patient's findings and make recommendations for management in accordance with current clinical practice guidelines. These recommendations will be shared directly with you.