RAISING AWARENESS TO ARTERIAL STIFFNESS AND EARLY VASCULAR AGEING THROUGH A COMMUNITY PHARMACY-BASED INTERVENTION - PROTOCOL OF THE ASINPHAR@2ACTION PROJECT. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pereira, T.; Paulino, E.; Rosa, M.; Pinto, A.; Teixeira, M.; Soares, P.; Maximiano, S.; Risse, J.; Gose, S.; Maldonado, J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of hypertension. Volume 36(2018)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: Hypertension -- Periodicals; Hypertension -- Periodicals; 616.132005
• DOI: 10.1097/01.hjh.0000539555.25814.f5
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-5598

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: Vascular dysfunction is a major determinant of cardiovascular disease and overall mortality. One emerging concept refers to vascular dysfunction as an expression of early vascular ageing (EVA), through which a change in the life expectancy trajectory will increase the probability of a bad outcome in the future. Furthermore, the early reversion of this EVA process should allow for a shift in this trajectory towards a more favorable one, with benefits over the long-term. Design and method: Hence, we designed a project to be implemented in a community setting based on the inter-play between Pharmacy Services, a Technology Company and a Research center. The project is a national multicenter, observational and prospective project, comprising a two action structure: first phase: cross-sectional analysis to describe the epidemiologic burden of AS and EVA, to identify its main determinants, and to evaluate the concordance amongst the risk estimations provided by conventional CV risk charts and the non-invasive measures of AS obtained in the community pharmacies; second phase: cohort study, aimed at identifying the predictive value of AS when added to conventional risk factors, defining EVA based on the individual longitudinal trends of AS and cBP, and testing a model of pharmacy-based intervention as an Aggressive Decrease of Athero/Arteriosclerosis Modifier. Results: Currently, 658 participants fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the project. Clinical and demographic information was gathered, as well as the estimation of global cardiovascular risk, health related quality of life and dietary profile. Blood pressure (BP) and arterial function parameters were measured with a semi-automatic, validated device (Mobil-O-Graph®, IEM). A copy of the result was provided to each participant at the end of the evaluation, with an estimation of the participant's Vascular Age. Based on the data and the overall risk profile, a tailored intervention plan was designed and proposed to each participant, focusing on lifestyle, dietary counseling, and therapy adherence, and follow-up assessments were programmed for the prospective phase of the project. Conclusions: The expected results will provide a major contribution to the understanding of the EVA process and to the definition of comunity-based preventive plans.