St John’s Medical College, recognized as one of the Centres of Excellence by the National Institute of Health (NIH), USA and the United Health UK, to carry out research on cardiovascular disease (CVD). The Bangalore-based missionary hospital is one of the 11 centres globally in the international research initiative to carry out patient studies to prevent the risk of CVD.

The five year research, viewed as one of the largest studies, will focus on ways to prevent the cardiovascular diseases, said Dr Christina Rabadan-Diehl, programme director, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institute of Health.

“It is observed that economically backward countries are reporting a rise in CVD. Heart problems are increasing among the poor people as they are reported to suffer from stress and consume low nutrition-high fat foods from unhygienic street outlets. There is a serious lack of awareness on early detection of heart diseases and its related complications,” she added.

Further, under the initiative of the Indian Cardiologists Research Advocacy Group, St. John’s has now three research projects spread over five years to assess diseases of the heart. The projects: Inspire (Indian Stroke Prospective Registry), Spread (Secondary Prevention of Coronary Events After Discharge ) and Prepare (Primary Prevention) will help to take stock of the disease prevalence and control.

‘Inspire’ project will involve 10,500 patients at 100 hospitals in 70 cities in the country.

‘Spread’ which is Secondary Prevention of Coronary Events After Discharge from hospital will focus on clinical trials to avoid heat attacks among such patients in 10 hospitals in the country.

Under ‘Prepare’ which is a Primary Prevention strategy at the community level is designed to prevent CVD on 20,000 patients.

These studies will analyze prevention of heart disease and strokes of three rural communities in three different regions of Bangalore Rural, Rajah Muthiah Medical College in Annamalainagar near Puducherry in Tamil Nadu and Sevagram in Maharashtra, said Dr Diehl.

St John’s will now tie-up with institutions like Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram and Fortis Escorts Hospital and Research Institute, Jaipur to conduct the research.

‘Inspire’ will observe how the 10,500 patients are treated and the post discharge care protocol will be assessed. This will help to improve the treatment of stroke which usually ensues with poor after care. While ‘Spread’ will study the stroke patients, but fail to take the medicines after discharge. This project will help to improve the lifestyle and create an awareness about the medication. The key objective of ‘Prepare is to conduct a national programme to control the risk factors that will reduce the complications of CVD.

As part of the programme researchers from not only India but Argentina, Bangladesh, China, Kenya, Peru, South Africa, Guatemala, Tunisia, and US-Mexico border will meet twice a year to share the information collected.

Besides the project also aims to train the young professionals to contribute to the research apart from development of infrastructure including data management which is also on the cards.