In focus
Recent studies may have uncovered sex specific approaches for the prevention of heart disease:
Heart disease has long been considered a "men's club". However, especially following menopause, heart disease has become an "equal opportunity" event for men and women. In fact, women are now more likely to die of heart disease than men.
Further, women suffering from heart disease are more likely to have a worse outcome, have more complications from vascular repair procedures and are less likely to have optimal care to prevent further heart attacks and strokes.
Recent studies by Dr. Ross Feldman in conjunction with other Hypertension Canada scientists including Drs. Robert Gros and Robert Hegele are examining the genetics of heart disease in women. Their most recent studies identified that a common genetic variant for a gene that encodes a newly appreciated cellular receptor for estrogen, GPER is a powerful predictor of the development of high blood pressure and the development of hypertension. Further, ongoing studies, including those presented at CHC 2013 have found that this receptor may also be important in the regulation of LDL cholesterol levels.
Together these studies may help open the door on the development of sex-specific approaches for the prevention of heart disease.
Editors note: See CTV's coverage of Dr. Ross Feldman's study here.
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Hypertension and the elderly: Walk 'N Talk For Your Life
Charlotte Jones, associate professor and director of student research at University of British Columbia (UBC), Southern Medical Program, shared an overview of UBC's program Wellness Action Teams for Community Health (WATCH), which has the potential to be a low-cost, "win-win" strategy to identify and address the needs of at risk populations. Because the program is developed by inter-disciplinary groups of students it has the additional benefit of enriching the student's education.
Throughout her career, Dr. Jones has led several successful projects, with the most recent being the ongoing Wellness Action Teams for Community Health (WATCH) program, which is making a positive impact on the lives of seniors in the Okanagan, BC area. The value of the WATCH project was previously demonstrated in a program for seniors in Calgary Alberta. Over a two-year period, twenty four teams of eight-second year Mount Royal University nursing students successfully engaged the management and residents of low-income senior's affordable housing units. Quantitative and qualitative data analysis documented a high prevalence of poorly controlled hypertension, low levels of physical activity, sub-optimal nutrition i.e. high sodium diets, and a high prevalence (18-30%) of loneliness and/or social isolation.
Together with the students, residents developed a health education, socialization and physical activity program. The results of this study have informed our current Walk 'n talk for your Life program being implemented on-site in ten affordable housing units in the central Okanagan, BC area, by 15 UBC students from the faculties of Medicine, Nursing, Human Kinetics, Psychology and Social Work.
For more information click here.
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October 16-18, 2014
DoubleTree By Hilton
Gatineau, Quebec
October 22-25, 2014
Winnipeg RBC Convention Centre
Winnipeg, Manitoba
October 25-28, 2014
2014 Canadian Cardiovascular Congress
Vancouver Convention Centre
Vancouver, British Columbia
November 6-9, 2014
2014 Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario Annual Conference
Hamilton Convention Centre
Hamilton, Ontario
November 13-15, 2014
Family Medicine Forum 2014
Quebec City Convention Centre
Québec City, Quebec
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