Do you have a history of cardiovascular disease in your family? If so, University of Queensland researchers may be interested in your involvement in a study.
People who do not have diabetes, are aged between 40 and 60 years and have an immediate relative with cardiovascular disease are currently being sought.
UQ's Cardiac Imaging Research Centre is recruiting 1000 volunteers to participate in a study identifying those at risk for premature cardiovascular disease.
The project will teach nurses how to do ultrasound imaging of the carotid arteries and will feed results in to a database to assess future at-risk patients.
The aim of the trial is to identify if a short ultrasound of the arterial walls can detect premature cardiovascular disease.
"This means programs for training nurses to do this type of assessment can be run in the future, adding to their skill-base practices and making available more precise risk-assessment for community general practitioners," nurse researcher Julie Holliday said.
The 12-month study, part of a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council, will take place at the UQ School of Medicine at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.
The initial, 30-minute eligibility visit will assess each volunteer's degree of risk in developing cardiovascular disease themselves in the next five years.
Those selected to take part in the study will attend between three and five more visits and will work with nurses to develop individual, risk-management programs.
The trial also includes healthy lifestyle promotion, support for lifestyle and risk-modification and help for active self-management.
For more trial information or to volunteer, contact Julie Holliday at j.holliday@uq.edu.au or by phone at 3176 6146 at the UQ School of Medicine.
Media: Allison Rock at UQ Communications on 3365 2619 or Allison.rock@uqconnect.edu.au
