BHF: Strategy may not work

Recommendations from the nation's health advisors may not effectively reduce levels of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

The charity said it has a number of concerns with the guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice).

Nice advises that health practitioners use computer software to identify individuals in England and Wales at a high risk of CVD, which can cause heart attacks and stroke.

It also says GPs should recommend statin therapy for adults between the ages of 40 and 75 with clinical evidence of CVD.

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said he welcomed the emphasis on indentifying CVD risk factors in each patient.

But he cautioned: "Relying on patients to attend GPs surgeries for assessment will fail to reach many of those from socially deprived and ethnically diverse communities who are most at risk.

"This issue will have to be addressed if the government's vascular risk assessment programme is to achieve its aims.

Professor Weissberg added: "The BHF is disappointed that Nice ducked the issue of providing guidance on target levels of cholesterol for people who don't yet have heart disease, but are at high risk.

"It has focused its advice entirely on generic statins which may not achieve meaningful reductions in cholesterol levels. This is compounded by their advice that it is not necessary to repeat lipid levels.

"This fire and forget approach is likely to result in many patients being inadequately treated."