Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in Canada and elsewhere, accounting for 35% of deaths in this country, at a cost to the health care system in 1998 at an estimated $18.5 million (or 11.6% of the costs of all illnesses). The number of people with cardiovascular disease or related heart problems will continue to rise as the baby boom generation ages.
In this 1-year randomized trial of 611 individuals, Andrew Wister PhD and colleagues found that a standardized intervention incorporating risk assessment and telephone counselling improved cardiovascular risk factors among those at risk for coronary disease, but not among those with established coronary disease.
You can view the paper associated with this press release at the link below:
http://www.cmaj.ca/pressrelease/pg859.pdf
Canadian Medical Association Journal