The National Institute for Health and Care Research has set up the £50 million fund that hopes to stop 17,000 heart attacks over three years. 

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is launching a new £50 million fund to tackle inequalities in cardiovascular disease. 

The opportunity, supported by the British Heart Foundation, aims to generate research to improve prevention, detection and monitoring of cardiovascular diseases. It contributes to a quarter of all deaths in the UK (26%) – more than 170,000 deaths every year – but does not affect everyone equally. The funding will focus on tackling inequalities in higher-risk groups such as ethnic minorities and in deprived communities. It will also address inequalities between women and men.

“Cardiovascular disease is one the UK’s biggest killers, with substantial health and care inequalities, and a large longer-term disease burden on the NHS. It can be significantly preventable if people have the right early intervention and support,” said NIHR chief executive Lucy Chappell. 

Higher-risk groups

Key aims include reducing inequalities by early detection and optimal management of hypertension and raised cholesterol, particularly in higher-risk groups, specifically the Core20PLUS population groups and younger age groups.

It will also focus on equitable and affordable supported self-management and personalised prevention, leveraging wearables and other digital health technologies to reduce health inequalities including related issues, such as data integration, access and digital poverty.

Innovative public health messaging and education including supporting sustained behaviour change to improve health outcomes specifically facilitating adherence and continuation of medication is another aim. 

One in three people who have a heart attack and two in five people with cardiovascular disease are of working age. Around 4 million people are estimated to be currently living with undetected or unmanaged hypertension. This is despite the availability of cheap and effective treatments. 

NIHR estimates that 17,000 heart attacks could be prevented, and £20 million saved in healthcare costs alone over three years, just by treating 80% of undiagnosed patients.