Active not recruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Effect of the SCOT-HEART 2 Trial on Lifestyle.

This study explores how getting information about your heart health, either from a 'risk score' or a special heart scan called a CTCA, might influence your daily habits. It's helping us understand if knowing your risk encourages healthier choices, like changing your diet or exercising more. We'll also be trying out different ways to explain the results of these heart scans to participants, to see what works best. This is a smaller part of a larger ongoing study called SCOT-HEART 2, which is aiming to find the best methods to prevent heart attacks. We hope to learn how to better support people in making lifestyle changes.

At a glance

Status

Active not recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Edinburgh

Enrolment target

400

Start

28 Sep 2020

Estimated completion

07 Jul 2027

Coronary Artery Disease Primary Prevention

What is this study about?

This study, called "Effect of the SCOT-HEART 2 Trial on Lifestyle," is a small but important part of a larger research project known as SCOT-HEART 2. The main goal of the bigger SCOT-HEART 2 study is to find the best ways to stop people from having heart attacks. Here, we're particularly interested in how information about your heart health might influence your day-to-day choices.

Doctors often use special 'risk scores' to work out someone's chance of developing heart disease. In the SCOT-HEART 2 study, we're comparing these scores with information we get from a detailed heart scan called a CTCA. This current study wants to understand if receiving this kind of information (either your 'risk score' or details from your CT scan) encourages you to make healthier lifestyle choices, such as eating better, exercising more, or stopping smoking.

We'll also be looking at the best way to explain the results of the heart scans. For some participants, we'll talk through their scan results. For others, we'll show pictures of their heart from the scan. This will help us figure out the clearest and most helpful way to share this important information with patients in the future.

Key takeaways

This study is about understanding if knowing your heart health risk helps you make healthier choices.
It's a part of a bigger study (SCOT-HEART 2) looking into preventing heart attacks.
You'll fill out questionnaires and have simple health checks.
The study also wants to find the best way to explain heart scan results.
It lasts about six months and involves no new medications.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this particular study, you must already be taking part in the main SCOT-HEART 2 trial. We are looking for people who are aged between 40 and 70 years old, regardless of whether they are male or female.

Unfortunately, if you are not already enrolled in the SCOT-HEART 2 trial, you won't be able to join this specific part of the research.

Participation in the main SCOT-HEART 2 trial itself has its own set of rules, so you would need to meet those criteria first before being considered for this lifestyle study.

Quick self-check

Are you between 40 and 70 years old?
Are you already taking part in the main SCOT-HEART 2 trial?
Are you comfortable filling out questionnaires about your lifestyle?
Are you happy to have simple health checks like blood pressure and activity monitoring?

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

What does participation involve?

If you join this study, it won't involve taking any new medications. You'll simply be asked to complete a detailed questionnaire twice: once at the very beginning of the study and then again about six months later. This questionnaire will ask about your diet, activity levels, and other habits.

We'll also do a few simple checks, such as a quick breath test to measure carbon monoxide (if you smoke), measure your blood pressure, and use a device to count your steps and activity. For those who have had a CT heart scan as part of the main SCOT-HEART 2 trial, we will also provide you with your scan results. This might be a verbal explanation from a doctor, or we might show you pictures of your heart from the scan itself.

The entire study will last around six months, from your first questionnaire to your last. There are no additional hospital visits beyond what you would do for the main SCOT-HEART 2 trial.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could help us learn how best to support people in making healthy lifestyle choices, potentially reducing the risk of heart disease for others in the future. There are no known physical risks from participating in this specific study, as it mainly involves questionnaires and simple measurements. You can choose to leave the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care. The information you provide will be kept confidential.

Locations (1)

University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Common questions

What is a 'risk score' for heart disease?

A 'risk score' is a way doctors estimate your chances of getting heart disease in the future, based on things like your age, cholesterol, and blood pressure.

What is a CTCA scan?

A CTCA (Computed Tomography Coronary Angiogram) is a special scan that takes detailed pictures of the arteries in your heart to look for any narrowing or blockages.

Will I get results from my heart scan?

Yes, if you've had a CT scan as part of the SCOT-HEART 2 trial, we will definitely share the results with you in this study.

How long will I be involved in this study?

Your involvement in this specific study will last for about six months.

Do I have to change my lifestyle if I join?

No, you don't have to change your lifestyle. We are simply observing how knowledge about your heart health might or might not affect your choices.