Title:Heart Score Estimation by Specialized Nurses in a Greek Urban Population
Volume: 15
Issue: 1
Author(s): Evaggelia Papadopoulou, Maria Meidani, Maria Boutsikou, Pinelopi Papaspiropoulou, Theodosia Kelaiditou, Afedia Koukouzli, Anastasia Tapola, Ioanna Voudoufianaki, Sophie Mavrogeni, Niki Katsiki, Genovefa Kolovou and Ioannis Lekakis
Affiliation:
Keywords:
HeartScore, nursing staff, cardiovascular disease, risk factors, prevention.
Abstract: Aims: Specialized nurses estimated the HeartScore in an urban Greek population by recognizing
cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in the setting of the Onassis Cardiovascular Prevention
Program (OCPP). They also provided nursing consultation and assessed the clinical and biochemical
characteristics of the studied population.
Methods and Results: Individuals were recruited through TV announcements and via the website of the
Onassis Cardiac Surgery Centre. All participants visited the Onassis Cardiac Centre from 20 September to
30 October 2011. Overall, 2,145 individuals were included in the study. CVD risk was calculated by the
HeartScore and serum total cholesterol was measured (mean: 193±43 mg/dl). Although 33% of the participants
reported dyslipidaemia, only 17% were on hypolipidaemic treatment. Hypertension and dyslipidaemia
frequency increased with age.
Conclusion: In the present study, specialized nurses estimated the HeartScore in a Greek urban population.
The majority of the studied population was undiagnosed and untreated. These results highlight the
necessity for both primary and secondary prevention programs that can be carried out by specialized
nurses. Such programs may improve the diagnosis and treatment of CVD risk factors; early initiation and
optimization of therapy as well as management of drug intolerance (e.g. statins) can contribute to CVD
risk reduction.
