Feasibility of a real-world protocol to identify individuals at high risk for myocardial infarction: The HALT Heart Attack in Our Lifetime (HALT) Study

Heart disease is a major public health issue affecting every segment of our society. Cardiovascular risk factors are widely prevalent in India and contribute to the onset and progression of vascular disease. The intensity of cardiovascular disease (CVD) alters the community health in such a way which dramatically changes the life expectancy and productivity. Premature CVD can be prevented by early identification and aggressive modification of risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, tobacco use, and hyperlipidemia. Citizens who can readily embrace the importance of CVD are the family members/attendants of the affected patient. It is the family members who witness the ravages of CVD and hence, they can be considered as an informed group. The family members/attendants of a patient with CVD are more receptive to preventive medicine. In this study, it was possible to screen the patients' relatives/attendants for CVD risk factors. Hence, it is easily possible to detect CVD risk factors among the friends/family members and attendants of the affected patient. This concerted effort will bestow enormous benefits in the detection and management of CVD with a nation-wide impact.