Study candidates were selected from among biobank participants aged 45\u201380 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c40% 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,\u201d said Mikk J\u00fcrisson, Associate Professor of Public Health at the University of Tartu and the study\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Mikk](\"https:\/\/sisu.ut.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/866\/mikk-jurisson_foto-timo-arbeiter-1-1024x609.jpg\")
<\/figure>Participant consistency is key to success<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The success of the study depends on the consistency of the participants. According to J\u00fcrisson, 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. \u201cFive years is a long time. I wish us all perseverance, because the outcome depends on the participants\u2019 commitment to the study,\u201d said J\u00fcrisson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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\u00a0TeamPerMed<\/a>\u00a0project, 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 \u201cTeaming for Excellence\u201d initiative and the European Regional Development Fund.<\/p>\n\n\n\n