PRE-CLINICAL SCREENING FOR CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE IN ROUTINE PRACTICE.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: According to international recommendations, the absolute risk estimate of afirst coronary event in asymptomatic adults is based on the conventional risk factor’s assessment

introduced into a risk equation. OBJECTIVE: According to international recommendations, the

absolute risk estimate of a first coronary event in asymptomatic adults is based on the conventional risk factor’s assessment introduced into a risk equation. The cost of treating asymptomatic diseases, and the cost of secondary testing, may be too high to justify screening for large populations. We are developing a single view, Contrast Free Image (sci-fi) method tha tapplies to all cases and is not restricted only to individuals in sinus rhythm. STUDY DESIGN & METHOD: It was an Observational Cross-Sectional study of predesigned proforma Inclusion Criteria HSE employees. St. Luke’s hospital, Kilkenny & St. James’s hospital, Dublin on separate days within 24 hrs. Total numbers were included 200. RESULTS: The total number of 200 subjects who fully completed the survey were included, compared to all the Yes or No, the percentage of the full 100 people were not significantly different, 5% were unwilling to screen,7% were unable to cope with the news, 14% would not pay for drug treatment, 31% were unwilling to pay for non-invasive coronary angiography and 28% refuse to have an invasive coronary angiogram.CONCLUSION: It confirms that the bulk of the population who are interested in being screened, 1/3 is unwilling to pay for the cost of a 64 scan CT coronary angiogram & invasive coronary angiogram. The implications for normal individuals or the asymptomatic with risk factors need significant consideration globally, a small proportion admits to being likely incapable of coping with the news. The cardiac neurosis screening results require

surveillance.