RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Biomedical Research Informatics Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences (The BRICCS Study)

The BRICCS Study is investigating various heart and blood vessel conditions, such as heart attacks, heart failure, and high blood pressure. Researchers are observing hospital patients with these conditions, as well as healthy volunteers, to understand their health better. They will collect clinical details, blood, and urine samples to look for proteins, chemicals, and genetic markers. The aim is to find better ways to diagnose these conditions, predict future health events like further hospital stays, and see how different treatments work. By doing this, the study hopes to improve how heart conditions are understood and managed, helping patients in the long term. This study will last for 20 years.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University Hospitals, Leicester

Enrolment target

9,500

Start

17 Jun 2010

Estimated completion

31 Mar 2027

Cardiovascular Diseases Cardiovascular Risk Factor

What is this study about?

The BRICCS Study focuses on a range of heart and blood vessel conditions, also known as cardiovascular diseases. These include common problems like heart attacks, heart failure, issues with heart valves, specific surgeries, irregular heartbeats, conditions affecting blood vessels such as aneurysms and blockages, and high blood pressure, as well as conditions like stroke and those affecting blood vessels in the legs. Researchers want to better understand these conditions and improve how they are diagnosed and how doctors can predict what might happen in the future for someone with these conditions.

Current methods for diagnosing and predicting outcomes for heart conditions can sometimes be inaccurate or limited. This study aims to gather detailed information about patients' health, along with blood and urine samples. By analysing these samples, researchers can look for tiny clues called biomarkers – things like proteins, chemicals, or genetic information – that might explain why these conditions develop and how they affect the body.

Ultimately, the goal is to use all this information to create more accurate ways to diagnose heart conditions and better predict a patient's future health, including the likelihood of needing further hospital care, experiencing more heart-related problems, or how well treatments are working. This long-term study, planned to last 20 years, hopes to lead to better ways of understanding and managing heart and blood vessel conditions, helping patients live healthier lives.

Key takeaways

The study aims to understand various heart and blood vessel conditions better.
It involves hospital patients with these conditions and healthy volunteers.
Researchers will collect clinical information, blood, and urine samples.
The goal is to improve diagnosis and predict future health outcomes.
Participation primarily involves observation and providing samples.
This study is expected to last for 20 years, helping future patients.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for two main groups of people. Firstly, they need patients who have been diagnosed with certain heart and blood vessel conditions. This includes people who have had things like a heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure, or problems with their heart valves, among others. These patients can be either staying in hospital or coming for outpatient appointments.

Secondly, the study also needs healthy volunteers. These are people from the general community who don't have heart diseases or any other significant illnesses. Both groups, patients and healthy volunteers, need to be aged between 18 and 90 years old.

However, some people won't be able to join. This includes anyone who can't give their permission to take part, or patients with other serious illnesses that are expected to cause death within six months. Also, anyone known to have infections like HIV or Hepatitis B, or any other infection that could be passed on through samples, won't be able to participate.

Quick self-check

Are you between 18 and 90 years old?
Do you currently have a heart or blood vessel condition (like a heart attack, heart failure, or high blood pressure)? OR are you generally healthy without such conditions?
Are you able to provide your consent (permission) to take part?
Do you *not* have another serious illness that is expected to severely limit your life within the next 6 months?
Are you *not* known to have infections like HIV or Hepatitis B that could pose a risk from samples?

This is a guide only — the research team will confirm whether you can take part.

What does participation involve?

Taking part in the BRICCS Study mainly involves observation. This means researchers will collect information about your health. If you are a patient with a heart condition, this would involve providing clinical details from your medical records. For both patients and healthy volunteers, you would be asked to provide blood and urine samples for analysis. There are no specific medications given as part of this study, nor are there any special treatments. The study is collecting data and samples to learn from. The total duration of the study itself is 20 years, but your individual participation in terms of providing samples and information would be at specific points, not for the entire 20 years. You will likely have a visit (or visits) to provide samples and give your consent.

Potential risks and benefits

A potential benefit of taking part is contributing to a better understanding of heart and blood vessel conditions, which could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment for future patients. There are no direct medical benefits for you as an individual in this study. The main risks involved are usually related to giving blood samples, which might include minor discomfort, bruising, or a small risk of infection at the injection site. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

University Hospitals Leicester
Leicester, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What kind of heart conditions is the study looking at?

The study is looking at many heart and blood vessel conditions, including heart attacks, heart failure, high blood pressure, and problems with heart valves.

Do I have to be a patient to join?

No, the study needs both patients with heart conditions and healthy volunteers from the community.

What will I have to do if I join?

You'll be asked to provide some basic health information and give blood and urine samples.

How long will I be involved in the study?

Your involvement in giving samples and information will be at specific times, not for the entire 20-year study duration.

Will I get any treatment as part of this study?

No, this is an observational study, meaning no treatments or medications are given as part of the research.

How to find out more

Emma P Beeston

emma.beeston@uhl-tr.nhs.uk 0116 204 4738 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.