The Scientific Institute of the Pauls Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital in cooperation with the University of Latvia, the Riga Eastern University Clinical Hospital and the Health Inspectorate has launched a research "Possibilities of reducing medically preventable mortality in patients with cardiovascular diseases". In total, it is planned to involve up to 600 patients in the study.
Currently, in Latvia and in the world, the five-year mortality rate after leg vascular revascularization exceeds 50%, despite the rapid development and use of medications. The aim of the study is to evaluate a new technology for the detection of cardiovascular pathology in patients after leg vascular revascularization. Patients who have not previously had cardiovascular surgery and coronary complaints will undergo a non-invasive computed tomography examination of the heart's vessels. This examination will then be processed at the project's partner organization "HeartFlow" (California, USA) with a supercomputer, obtaining a complete map of the heart and blood vessels, which will show not only possible vascular damage, but also the effect of this damage on the heart muscle.
Patients for whom a specially created team of specialists will decide on the need for cardiovascular revascularization in accordance with international guidelines will be provided with a "green corridor" for immediate treatment of the pathology.
“This research will be of great benefit to patients, doctors and the country as a whole. Firstly, we will introduce a new technology capable of diagnosing "hidden" cardiovascular pathology in a non-invasive way, and secondly, we will create possible patient pathways so that, by early recognition of the problem and treatment of the heart, we avoid premature death of patients or suffering from myocardial infarctions. If this study confirms our previous observations, it could also change the internationally accepted guidelines in the management of patients with vascular pathology," says the scientific leader of the study, Professor Dainis Krieviņš.
The research is being conducted at Stradiņš Hospital, Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital, as well as research cooperation hospitals in Lithuania, Denmark, Netherlands, Poland and the USA. In total, the study is planned to involve up to 600 patients to prove the effectiveness of this technology and the examination and treatment of patients. The study will be conducted with the cooperation of a multidisciplinary team of specialists: vascular surgeons, radiologists, cardiologists, invasive cardiologists, anesthesiologists and cardiac surgeons.
In a previous pilot project with this patient treatment technology, which was used in Latvia for the first time in the world, in the five years after peripheral vascular surgery, cardiovascular mortality and the number of myocardial infarctions decreased by more than 85%, significantly reducing overall patient mortality as well.
The research is financed by the Latvian Science Council, in the project "Evaluation of the quality of health care services, reduction of cardiovascular and oncology mortality in patients with peripheral vascular pathology multidisciplinary team" approved by the national research program "Public Health".
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