A combined study on the probable genetic causes for cardiovascular diseases among Indians is to be taken up by the Apollo hospitals and Johns Hopkins Medicine International.
Johns Hopkins Medicine International from the US and Apollo hospitals will undertake a combined study on the genetic reasons of cardiovascular disease in Indians.
It was explained that in July last year, Apollo Hospitals had come into an agreement with Johns Hopkins to work jointly in areas like telemedicine, second opinion services, continuing medical education programmes, and participation in clinical trials.Susan J. Zieman, assistant professor, medicines of John Hopkins on Tuesday in N.Delhi said, “The collaborative study will document the risk factors and identify genes that are associated with the premature CVD among Indians.” She further explained that the study is primarily being undertaken at the 3 Apollo hospitals, in Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai, to identify the risk factors in Asian Indians who have experienced myocardial infraction at a young age.
She further mentioning that “It will also investigate potential genetic variants associated with early onset of myocardial infraction, elevated risk factors and sub clinical CVD,” she said that the study will take samples from patients, their siblings and general people. Sunil Modi, a senior consultant and interventional cardiologist of the Apollo hospitals, while speaking to the media said, “Indians are 3.8 times more prone to the disease than residents of Singapore, three times more than Fijians, 2.4 times more than people of Trinidad, 1.4 times higher than South Africans and 1.5 times higher than British.”
Stating that almost around 8% of Indian population are probably suffering from heart diseases, Dr Modi said, “The study will take a sample of 1,500 people and conduct over 400 tests before reaching any conclusion. While the base of the study will be India, John Hopkins will provide us the some of the know how and research methodology. Of the over 400 tests some of the tests will also be conducted in the US. The clinical trails credibility of Johns Hopkins will definitely make our effort more meaningful.”
S.K. Aggarwal, a senior consultant in internal medicine said that the study would also look into the effect of administering ‘Polypill’ for reduction of CVD in patients. It was explained that Polypill is actually a mixture of three scheduled drugs, namely Aspirin, Statin, and ECE Inhibitor. It was explained that these three drugs are known for their action in reducing blood clot, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
Zieman said, “The polypill can be an effective medicine to reduce CVD but for that we will study the effect of the drug in its entirety. If successful the medicine can be used as a cost effective way to control the coronary heart diseases.”
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