Active clinical trials for "Coronary Disease"

The purpose of this study is to compare two methods of diagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD), thallium single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and ultrafast computed tomography (CT).

Background: Noninvasive cardiac stress testing is imperfect. Inconclusive test results generate further expensive testing. In patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease, both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have been shown to provide suitable results for detecting the disease. However, both types of scans have limitations in their usefulness, and it is not known whether one is preferable in either accuracy or cost-effectiveness. Objectives: - To determine the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of CT and MRI in subjects with a prior inconclusive heart stress test. Eligibility: - Patients 18 years of age and older who have had an inconclusive heart stress test within the past 90 days. Design: A blood test will be obtained prior to both heart tests. This will require less than a teaspoon of blood. A CT scan will be performed, accompanied by beta blocker medications (to slow heart rate) or nitroglycerin (to enlarge blood vessels) to improve picture quality, as needed. An MRI scan will be performed. Scans will be taken before, during, and after the patient receives vasodilators (to increase blood flow to the coronary arteries and detect blockages in heart blood vessels). Heart rate and function will be monitored with an electrocardiogram.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cause of death in the United States. A common term for CHD is "blocked arteries." People with CHD or "blocked arteries" often have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes. They are also more likely to suffer a heart attack. Many heart attacks could be prevented by taking medicines that control blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. However, only 50%-60% of patients take their medicines as directed. Patients who don't take their medicines regularly are considered noncompliant. One of the risk factors for noncompliance is low health literacy. Health literacy is the ability to obtain, understand, and act on basic health information. Patients with low health literacy may not understand their illnesses as well, or how to take their medicines properly. The purposes of this project are to learn more about the relationship between low health literacy and medication compliance, and to test 2 different strategies designed to help patients take their medicines more regularly. Patients with CHD were recruited when they arrived for a regular doctor's appointment. We measured their health literacy skills, asked questions about how they take their medications, and checked their blood pressure and last cholesterol and diabetes measurements. We then assigned patients to 1 of 4 intervention groups (intervention ongoing). The first group is receiving usual care, which includes regular medication instructions printed on the bottle and no reminders to refill medicines. The second group gets monthly postcards reminding them to refill their prescriptions. The third group gets a new medication schedule that shows them, with pictures and figures, how they are supposed to take their medicines each day. The fourth group receives both the postcards and the new medication schedule. We are following patients for 1 year to see which intervention has the greatest impact on their medication compliance, blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes measurements. We will also examine whether patients' health literacy affects the success of the interventions.

This is an observational study among Latino patients who have coronary artery disease. The goal of the study is to determine the association between having depressive symptoms and the ability to modify one's health behavior. Specifically, participate in physical activity.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United States. One common risk factor for CHD is obesity. The presence of certain types of fat over others is more commonly associated with the development of CHD. This study will use data from a previous study to examine the association between pericardial fat, a type of fat that surrounds the heart, and CHD.

To assess genetic effects on the variation of cardiovascular and pulmonary risk factors in a cohort of 514 pairs of white male veteran twins.

To measure changes in coronary heart disease risk factors in cohorts of Black and white males and females 18 to 30 years of age at baseline. Also, to identify life styles during this age span which influence these changes in risk factors.

To conduct a large-scale demonstration and education project designed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of long-term community health education directed toward lowering cardiovascular disease risk, morbidity, and mortality. Targeted risk factors included general lifestyle, smoking, blood pressure, nutrition and weight, and exercise. The program was evaluated by biennial cross-sectional independent surveys, longitudinal studies, and morbidity and mortality surveillance.

To conduct a large-scale community-based demonstration and education research project designed to evaluate the effectiveness of multiple educational strategies on risk factor reduction and the primary prevention of population-wide cardiovascular diseases in three intervention communities compared with three control communities. The program was evaluated by cross-sectional surveys, a longitudinal survey, and morbidity and mortality surveillance.

To assess the mode of inheritance of familial combined hyperlipidemia and familial primary hypoalphalipoproteinemia and to resolve genetic and familial environmental effects on several phenotypes of importance to coronary heart disease.