RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

London Valvular Heart Disease and Reduced Ejection Fraction Detection in a Multi-ethnic Community Using Cardiac Ultrasound

This study, called 'London Valvular Heart Disease and Reduced Ejection Fraction Detection in a Multi-ethnic Community Using Cardiac Ultrasound', is looking at heart valve diseases and a condition where the heart struggles to pump blood effectively. These conditions cause many emergency hospital visits, especially in people over 65. The study wants to find out how common these problems are in London's diverse communities. Currently, there aren't enough trained staff to do the necessary heart scans (echocardiograms) in local areas. So, this study will train local healthcare staff to perform quick scans to spot these issues early. The aim is to help more people get diagnosed and treated sooner, reducing the number of emergency hospital admissions and improving overall health.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Queen Mary University of London

Enrolment target

500

Start

14 Mar 2023

Estimated completion

02 Sep 2026

Heart Valve Diseases Left Ventricular Dysfunction

What is this study about?

Heart valve diseases and heart weakness (often called heart failure) are serious conditions that can make you feel tired, breathless, and unwell. They are a big reason why people, especially those over 65, end up in hospital emergency departments. In a city like London with many different communities, we believe these problems might be quite common, but we don't have enough clear information about how many people are affected.

Catching heart valve disease or heart weakness early is really important. If found in time, doctors can monitor you closely and offer treatments like medication or timely surgery that can make a big difference to your health and quality of life. The NHS wants to improve early detection and treatment to reduce the strain on hospitals and help people live healthier lives.

Currently, the main way to diagnose these heart problems is with a special scan called an echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to create pictures of your heart. However, there aren't enough specially trained staff in local clinics to perform these scans. This study plans to train regular healthcare staff in your local community to do quick, simple heart scans. These scans would be done casually, perhaps when you're already at your GP surgery for another reason, making it easier for you and aiming to connect local care with hospital specialists smoother.

Key takeaways

Aims to find heart valve problems and heart weakness early.
Focuses on people aged 65 and over in diverse communities.
Uses quick, safe heart scans (echocardiograms) by local staff.
Helps to improve early diagnosis and reduce hospital visits.
Contributes to developing new computer tools for heart diagnosis.

Who may be eligible?

To be part of this study, you need to be 65 years old or older. The study is open to both men and women.

However, there are some reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if you have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or a type of dementia called vascular dementia, you wouldn't be able to take part. Also, if you are currently receiving palliative care (care focused on comforting you rather than treating an illness), this study would not be suitable for you.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 65 years old or older?
Do you currently have a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease or vascular dementia? (If yes, you may not be suitable)
Are you currently receiving palliative care? (If yes, you may not be suitable)

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, the main thing you would do is have a short, quick heart scan called an echocardiogram. This scan uses sound waves, like those used to look at babies before they are born, to show pictures of your heart. It's painless and usually takes only a few minutes. This scan might happen opportunistically when you're already visiting your doctor's surgery. You won't need to take any special medications or attend extra appointments just for the scan itself. The overall duration for your involvement would be very short, just the time it takes to complete the scan. The information from this scan will then be looked at by heart experts and also used (without your personal details) to help develop new computer tools that could make heart diagnoses even better in the future.

Potential risks and benefits

A potential benefit of taking part is that conditions like heart valve disease or heart weakness, if present, could be detected earlier, allowing for timely medical advice and care. There are no direct physical risks with the echocardiogram itself; it is a very safe and common procedure. The main consideration is ensuring your comfort during the scan. Remember, participating in any study is entirely voluntary, and you have the right to withdraw at any time without giving a reason and without affecting your usual medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

St Bartholomews Hospital
Verified postcode
London, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is an echocardiogram?

An echocardiogram is a safe, painless scan that uses sound waves to create moving pictures of your heart, similar to an ultrasound scan for pregnant women.

Will I get my scan results?

All scans will be reviewed by experts. If anything concerning is found, it will be communicated so you can discuss it with your GP for further steps.

Do I have to do anything special before the scan?

No, you don't need to prepare in any special way. You can eat and drink as normal before your heart scan.

How long will the scan take?

The quick heart scan by the trained community staff is designed to be very brief, usually only a few minutes.

Who will see my personal information?

Your personal details will be kept confidential. The study will use anonymised data (meaning data without your name or identifying information) to develop new tools.

How to find out more

Nabila Laskar, MBBS

nabila.laskar@nhs.net 02073777000 Official trial record

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