Pilot project ‘could halve heart and stroke deaths’

DEATHS caused by Ireland’s biggest killers - heart attack and stroke - could be halved using a range of preventative interventions, a unique pilot project has indicated.

The Reduction of Heart Attack and Stroke through Prevention programme (RHASP) has the potential to prevent heart attack and stroke in more than 2,000 high risk patients, according to a report on its success.

RHASP, an 18-month pilot scheme run in six general practices on the north side of Dublin, yesterday recommended extending the programme to other areas after it proved highly successful in detecting and preventing heart disease.