New Cardiovascular Risk Screening Strategy.
HELENA
Health Program for prEvention of cardiovascuLar disEases Based on a Risk screeNing Strategy With Ankle-brachial Index.
1 other identifier
interventional
54,000
1 country
1
Brief Summary
Mortality due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Spain accounted for 29% of all deaths (32% in women and 26% in men) in 2017. Out of those, 67% were related to a coronary or a cerebrovascular disease . A key strategy in primary prevention of CVD is to use risk functions to individualize preventive interventions for each patient. The current CV risk-screening program in some regions of Spain, is based using an adapted Framingham scale, REGICOR's risk function, which is integrated in the primary care electronic health record. This risk function predicts the probability within 10 years of developing a coronary event. However, this function fails to identify patients that fall into low- or intermediate-risk level, and might develop a CV event in the up following 10 years. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a simple, non-invasive and economic technique, which allows detecting peripheral arterial disease (PAD), and gives independent risk function information compared to other coronary risk functions. Even tough, between 13-27% of middle age population have an ABI ≤ 9, around 50-89% of them do not exhibit any symptoms. However, they hold higher mortality risk and CV events. Current clinical guidelines for PAD screening, have a limited level of evidence, and only recommend using ABI on patients aged 50-70, who have diabetes or are smokers, and patients older than 70 years old. A new risk function, REASON, to assess CVD risk has been designed. This model has proven to improve predictive capacity of holding an ABI ≤ 0.9 on those patients aged 50-74 that are apparently free of CVD. Therefore, a strategy that combines the current CV risk estimation using REGICOR, and the prediction capacity of pathologic ABI with REASON, would allow detecting high-risk patients with a PAD screening program. It is possible that patients, who hold an ABI ≤ 0.9, even if being asymptomatic, will adopt physician's recommendations on healthy life habits and preventive treatment. The aims of this study are:
- To assess the effectiveness and cost-utility of adding a screening program with ABI to the current strategy of CV risk detection to reduce the incidence of CVD and mortality from all causes in the population aged 50 to 74.
- To assess the effectiveness of adding a screening program with ABI to the current strategy of CV risk detection to improve cardiovascular risk factors in the population aged 50 to 74.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable
Started Nov 2023
Typical duration for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
May 10, 2023
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
June 1, 2023
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
November 20, 2023
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
June 1, 2026
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
June 1, 2026
December 29, 2023
December 1, 2023
2.5 years
May 10, 2023
December 22, 2023
Conditions
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (15)
Hard coronary heart disease (CHD)
Myocardial infarction, cardiac revascularization, or coronary death
3 years
Major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE)
A composite of hard CHD (myocardial infarction, cardiac revascularization, or coronary death) and stroke (fatal and nonfatal ischemic stroke)
3 years
All-cause mortality
3 years
Tabaco consumption (CVD risk factors improvement assessment)
Smoker, ex-smoker or non-smoker
3 years
Lipid profile (CVD risk factors improvement assessment)
Total cholesterol (mg/dl), LDL (mg/dl), HDL (mg/dl), Triglycerides (mg/dl)
3 years
Systolic and diastolic pressure (CVD risk factors improvement assessment)
mm Hg
3 years
Weight (CVD risk factors improvement assessment)
kg
3 years
Height (CVD risk factors improvement assessment)
m
3 years
BMI (CVD risk factors improvement assessment)
(kg/m2) Will be calculated dividing the weight in kilograms by their height in metres squared
3 years
Glycaemia (CVD risk factors improvement assessment)
Fasting blood sugar (mg/dl)
3 years
Glycated haemoglobin (CVD risk factors improvement assessment)
(in DM patients) glycosylated hemoglobin in the blood (mg/dl) or percentage (%)
3 years
Creatinine (CVD risk factors improvement assessment)
mg/dL
3 years
Proteinuria (CVD risk factors improvement assessment)
mg/dL protein in urine
3 years
Albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) (CVD risk factors improvement assessment)
ACR (mg/g) will be calculated by by dividing mg of proteinuria (albumine) by g of creatinine.
3 years
Glomerular filtrate rate (CVD risk factors improvement assessment)
Levels of creatinine in milliliters of cleansed blood per minute per body surface (mL/min/1.73m2).
3 years
Secondary Outcomes (4)
Coronary heart disease
3 years
Cerebrovascular disease
3 years
Cardiovascular disease
3 years
Lipid lowering medication Adverse effects
3 years
Study Arms (2)
Intervention group PAD screening program
EXPERIMENTALPatients aged 50-74 years free of any symptomatic or history of CVD and a Framingham-REGICOR risk ≥7%, will be candidates for PAD screening program using REASON's function predicative capacity
Control group PAD screening program
NO INTERVENTIONPatients aged 50-74 years free of any symptomatic or history of CVD will be candidates as a comparison group to calculate the cost-utility and reduction of CVD risk and events.
Interventions
The current CV risk screening program in based using the REGICOR risk function, which is integrated in the primary care electronic health record. This risk function predicts the probability within 10 years of developing a coronary event. Those who are categorized as high risk, obtaining a 10% of probability, are candidates of receiving lipid lowering drugs and recommendations on healthy life habits. What this intervention suggests is that, besides the REGICOR estimation, the electronic health records will also incorporate a new CV risk function, REASON. The model predicts the risk of holding a pathologic ABI score, in people aged 50-74 years old who are apparently free of CV. Patients who obtain a score ≥ 7 will undergo a PAD screening program with ABI test. If the value of the test is ≤0.9, the REGICOR, physicians will recommend indications of the Health Catalan Institute's CV and lipid Guidelines to the patients.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Patients aged 50 to 74, which are free or do not have previous history of CVD. Patients that hold a REGICOR CV risk score ≥7, and REASON risk core ≥7, during a routine primary care visit
You may not qualify if:
- Symptomatic PAD
- Coronary disease
- Stroke
- Cardiac revascularization
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Institut Català de la Salut (ICS)
Barcelona, 08007, Spain
Related Publications (22)
Ministerio de Sanidad SS e I. Indicadores de Salud 2020 Evolución de los indicadores del estado de salud en España y su magnitud en el contexto de la Unión Europea. Madrid; 2020.
BACKGROUNDInstitute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Global Burden of Disease Results Tool, Global Health Data Exchange. 2017
BACKGROUNDWilkins E, et al. European Cardiovascular Disease Statistics. European Heart Network, editor. Brussels; 2017
BACKGROUNDVisseren FLJ, Mach F, Smulders YM, Carballo D, Koskinas KC, Back M, Benetos A, Biffi A, Boavida JM, Capodanno D, Cosyns B, Crawford C, Davos CH, Desormais I, Di Angelantonio E, Franco OH, Halvorsen S, Hobbs FDR, Hollander M, Jankowska EA, Michal M, Sacco S, Sattar N, Tokgozoglu L, Tonstad S, Tsioufis KP, van Dis I, van Gelder IC, Wanner C, Williams B; ESC National Cardiac Societies; ESC Scientific Document Group. 2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. Eur Heart J. 2021 Sep 7;42(34):3227-3337. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehab484. No abstract available.
PMID: 34458905BACKGROUNDComin E, Solanas P, Cabezas C, Subirana I, Ramos R, Gene-Badia J, Cordon F, Grau M, Cabre-Vila JJ, Marrugat J. [Estimating cardiovascular risk in Spain using different algorithms]. Rev Esp Cardiol. 2007 Jul;60(7):693-702. Spanish.
PMID: 17663853BACKGROUNDMorrow DA, de Lemos JA. Benchmarks for the assessment of novel cardiovascular biomarkers. Circulation. 2007 Feb 27;115(8):949-52. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.106.683110. No abstract available.
PMID: 17325253BACKGROUNDGrewal J, Anand S, Islam S, Lonn E; SHARE and SHARE-AP Investigators. Prevalence and predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis among asymptomatic "low risk" individuals in a multiethnic population. Atherosclerosis. 2008 Mar;197(1):435-42. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2007.06.020. Epub 2007 Aug 6.
PMID: 17675040BACKGROUNDGreenland P, Abrams J, Aurigemma GP, Bond MG, Clark LT, Criqui MH, Crouse JR 3rd, Friedman L, Fuster V, Herrington DM, Kuller LH, Ridker PM, Roberts WC, Stanford W, Stone N, Swan HJ, Taubert KA, Wexler L. Prevention Conference V: Beyond secondary prevention: identifying the high-risk patient for primary prevention: noninvasive tests of atherosclerotic burden: Writing Group III. Circulation. 2000 Jan 4;101(1):E16-22. doi: 10.1161/01.cir.101.1.e16. No abstract available.
PMID: 10618318BACKGROUNDMcDermott MM, Greenland P, Liu K, Guralnik JM, Celic L, Criqui MH, Chan C, Martin GJ, Schneider J, Pearce WH, Taylor LM, Clark E. The ankle brachial index is associated with leg function and physical activity: the Walking and Leg Circulation Study. Ann Intern Med. 2002 Jun 18;136(12):873-83. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-136-12-200206180-00008.
PMID: 12069561BACKGROUNDRamos R, Quesada M, Solanas P, Subirana I, Sala J, Vila J, Masia R, Cerezo C, Elosua R, Grau M, Cordon F, Juvinya D, Fito M, Isabel Covas M, Clara A, Angel Munoz M, Marrugat J; REGICOR Investigators. Prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic peripheral arterial disease and the value of the ankle-brachial index to stratify cardiovascular risk. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2009 Sep;38(3):305-11. doi: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2009.04.013. Epub 2009 Jun 10.
PMID: 19515589BACKGROUNDHeald CL, Fowkes FG, Murray GD, Price JF; Ankle Brachial Index Collaboration. Risk of mortality and cardiovascular disease associated with the ankle-brachial index: Systematic review. Atherosclerosis. 2006 Nov;189(1):61-9. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2006.03.011. Epub 2006 Apr 18.
PMID: 16620828BACKGROUNDAnkle Brachial Index Collaboration; Fowkes FG, Murray GD, Butcher I, Heald CL, Lee RJ, Chambless LE, Folsom AR, Hirsch AT, Dramaix M, deBacker G, Wautrecht JC, Kornitzer M, Newman AB, Cushman M, Sutton-Tyrrell K, Fowkes FG, Lee AJ, Price JF, d'Agostino RB, Murabito JM, Norman PE, Jamrozik K, Curb JD, Masaki KH, Rodriguez BL, Dekker JM, Bouter LM, Heine RJ, Nijpels G, Stehouwer CD, Ferrucci L, McDermott MM, Stoffers HE, Hooi JD, Knottnerus JA, Ogren M, Hedblad B, Witteman JC, Breteler MM, Hunink MG, Hofman A, Criqui MH, Langer RD, Fronek A, Hiatt WR, Hamman R, Resnick HE, Guralnik J, McDermott MM. Ankle brachial index combined with Framingham Risk Score to predict cardiovascular events and mortality: a meta-analysis. JAMA. 2008 Jul 9;300(2):197-208. doi: 10.1001/jama.300.2.197.
PMID: 18612117BACKGROUNDEspinola-Klein C, Rupprecht HJ, Bickel C, Lackner K, Savvidis S, Messow CM, Munzel T, Blankenberg S; AtheroGene Investigators. Different calculations of ankle-brachial index and their impact on cardiovascular risk prediction. Circulation. 2008 Aug 26;118(9):961-7. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.763227. Epub 2008 Aug 12.
PMID: 18697822BACKGROUNDUS Preventive Services Task Force; Curry SJ, Krist AH, Owens DK, Barry MJ, Caughey AB, Davidson KW, Doubeni CA, Epling JW Jr, Kemper AR, Kubik M, Landefeld CS, Mangione CM, Silverstein M, Simon MA, Tseng CW, Wong JB. Screening for Peripheral Artery Disease and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment With the Ankle-Brachial Index: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2018 Jul 10;320(2):177-183. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.8357.
PMID: 29998344BACKGROUNDNorgren L, Hiatt WR, Dormandy JA, Nehler MR, Harris KA, Fowkes FG; TASC II Working Group; Bell K, Caporusso J, Durand-Zaleski I, Komori K, Lammer J, Liapis C, Novo S, Razavi M, Robbs J, Schaper N, Shigematsu H, Sapoval M, White C, White J, Clement D, Creager M, Jaff M, Mohler E 3rd, Rutherford RB, Sheehan P, Sillesen H, Rosenfield K. Inter-Society Consensus for the Management of Peripheral Arterial Disease (TASC II). Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2007;33 Suppl 1:S1-75. doi: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2006.09.024. Epub 2006 Nov 29. No abstract available.
PMID: 17140820BACKGROUNDRamos R, Baena-Diez JM, Quesada M, Solanas P, Subirana I, Sala J, Alzamora M, Fores R, Masia R, Elosua R, Grau M, Cordon F, Pera G, Rigo F, Marti R, Ponjoan A, Cerezo C, Brugada R, Marrugat J. Derivation and validation of REASON: a risk score identifying candidates to screen for peripheral arterial disease using ankle brachial index. Atherosclerosis. 2011 Feb;214(2):474-9. doi: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2010.11.015. Epub 2010 Nov 19.
PMID: 21167488BACKGROUNDPerlstein TS, Creager MA. The ankle-brachial index as a biomarker of cardiovascular risk: it's not just about the legs. Circulation. 2009 Nov 24;120(21):2033-5. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.907238. Epub 2009 Nov 9. No abstract available.
PMID: 19901185BACKGROUNDRamos R, Garcia-Gil M, Comas-Cufi M, Quesada M, Marrugat J, Elosua R, Sala J, Grau M, Marti R, Ponjoan A, Alves-Cabratosa L, Blanch J, Bolibar B. Statins for Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in a Low-Risk Population With Low Ankle Brachial Index. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016 Feb 16;67(6):630-640. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2015.11.052.
PMID: 26868687BACKGROUNDLindholt JS, Sogaard R. Population screening and intervention for vascular disease in Danish men (VIVA): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2017 Nov 18;390(10109):2256-2265. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32250-X. Epub 2017 Aug 28.
PMID: 28859943BACKGROUNDDiederichsen AC, Rasmussen LM, Sogaard R, Lambrechtsen J, Steffensen FH, Frost L, Egstrup K, Urbonaviciene G, Busk M, Olsen MH, Mickley H, Hallas J, Lindholt JS. The Danish Cardiovascular Screening Trial (DANCAVAS): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2015 Dec 5;16:554. doi: 10.1186/s13063-015-1082-6.
PMID: 26637993BACKGROUNDBetriu A, Farras C, Abajo M, Martinez-Alonso M, Arroyo D, Barbe F, Buti M, Lecube A, Portero M, Purroy F, Torres G, Valdivielso JM, Fernandez E. Randomised intervention study to assess the prevalence of subclinical vascular disease and hidden kidney disease and its impact on morbidity and mortality: The ILERVAS project. Nefrologia. 2016 Jul-Aug;36(4):389-96. doi: 10.1016/j.nefro.2016.02.008. Epub 2016 Apr 1. English, Spanish.
PMID: 27044887BACKGROUNDDominguez-Armengol G, Ribas-Aulinas F, Ballo E, Alzamora-Sas M, Serrat-Costa M, Ruiz-Comellas A, Forcadell-Peris MJ, Toran P, Marti-Lluch R, Ponjoan A, Blanch J, Alves-Cabratosa L, Zacarias-Pons L, Tornabell-Noguera E, Sanchez-Perez A, Berenguera-Osso A, Ramos R; HELENA Study Group. Health program for prEvention of cardiovascuLar disEases based on a risk screeNing strategy with Ankle-brachial index: HELENA study protocol. Front Public Health. 2025 May 30;13:1484163. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1484163. eCollection 2025.
PMID: 40520295DERIVED
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Rafel Ramos Blanes, MD, PhD
Unidad de Investigación en Atención Primaria de Girona, IDIAP Jordi Gol
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- PREVENTION
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
May 10, 2023
First Posted
June 1, 2023
Study Start
November 20, 2023
Primary Completion (Estimated)
June 1, 2026
Study Completion (Estimated)
June 1, 2026
Last Updated
December 29, 2023
Record last verified: 2023-12