TeamPerMed heart health study has the required number of participants and moves to the next stage
In the genetic study on heart health led by the Estonian Biobank at University of Tartu, the required number of participants – just over 2,500 individuals – have now expressed their willingness to take part. With their help, researchers aim to determine whether heart disease can be more effectively prevented with cholesterol-lowering treatment based on genetic risk assessment.
Study candidates were selected from among biobank participants aged 45–80 whose genetic risk for heart disease made them suitable for the study and who had not previously been diagnosed with heart disease or prescribed cholesterol-lowering treatment.
“40% of those invited have agreed to participate. This is a relatively high participation rate for clinical studies and shows that Estonians are willing to contribute to research and trust our doctors and researchers. We are very grateful for this trust,” said Mikk Jürisson, Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Tartu and the study’s principal investigator. All individuals who have expressed their willingness to participate will visit a research nurse and doctor before being included in the study to ensure their suitability for the study and to have all their questions answered.
The study will assess whether preventive statin therapy based solely on genetic risk can reduce heart attacks and strokes more effectively than current treatment practices. Participants will be divided into two groups: one will take statins for five years, while the other will not. The health of both groups will be regularly monitored by either a family doctor or a research nurse.
Participant consistency is key to success
The success of the study depends on the consistency of the participants. According to Jürisson, it is crucial that participants follow the given instructions, take the medication regularly, and complete the questionnaires sent during the study. Family doctors also play an important role in supporting participants. “Five years is a long time. I wish us all perseverance, because the outcome depends on the participants’ commitment to the study,” said Jürisson.
If, at the end of the study, early cholesterol-lowering treatment based on genetic risk proves to be an effective method for preventing heart disease, it could lead to changes in clinical practice. This would mean that the assessment of genetic predisposition becomes part of everyday medicine, enabling more personalised treatment decisions and potentially reducing the number of heart attacks and strokes across the population.
The five-year study is being conducted by the University of Tartu, Tartu University Hospital, and North Estonia Medical Centre in collaboration with the Estonian Society of Family Doctors, regional hospitals, pharmacies, and Synlab. The study is part of the TeamPerMed project, which aims to advance the implementation of personalised medicine in Estonia by integrating clinical practice, genomics, IT, social sciences, and economics. The project is funded by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research and the European Union through the “Teaming for Excellence” initiative and the European Regional Development Fund.
More information on the study (in Estonian) geenidoonor.ee/sudameuuring
