TOPCAT
Research type
Research Study
Full title
a populaTion based study exploring a cOmmunity hypercholesterolemia intervention in north eAsT england
IRAS ID
306471
Contact name
Karl Charlton
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
n/a, n/a
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 30 days
Research summary
Cardio vascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death in most European countries. High cholesterol levels are linked to death from CVD and there is a relationship between the increase in CVD deaths and an increase in cholesterol levels. Identifying those most at risk from a raised cholesterol level is a priority for the NHS.
Traditionally high cholesterol is identified by a GP, it is known many patients do not respond to health check invitations or visit their GP. This study is an opportunity to reach patients who may be at risk of high cholesterol, who would otherwise remain undiagnosed and at risk.
Paramedics spend many hours with patients and 40% of patients are not conveyed to hospital. Therefore there exists an opportunity to engage patients in discussions surrounding wider health issues, including cholesterol.
Study paramedics will approach patients who have capacity to provide written informed consent, who do not require emergency care/transportation to hospital, are aged 50 years or older and who have hypertension (>140 systolic or >90 diastolic). After having an opportunity to read an information sheet, ask questions and provide written informed consent, willing patients will have their cholesterol measured by the paramedic using a point of care machine and blood from a finger prick test (similar to a blood glucose test which most patients receive as standard care). Patients with a cholesterol of ≥5.1 will be given a follow up sheet recording their cholesterol with advice to contact their GP for further support. The research team will write to GPs to inform them of the patients cholesterol, and will follow up at 60 days to see which patients have made contact with their GP. The researchers will attempt to contact patients who have not made contact with their GP to understand barriers preventing them doing so.
REC name
West Midlands - Solihull Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/WM/0256
Date of REC Opinion
30 Nov 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion