A HEALTHY heart campaign has cut the risk of devastating strokes among 400 Bradford patients by 66 per cent.

Figures released by the Bradford Healthy Hearts campaign says since it started last October, as many as 16 strokes a year are being prevented or postponed because of the medication and therapy it is giving.

The encouraging figures were released yesterday at the start of Heart Rhythm Week, promoting the theme of detect, protect and correct.

Expert evidence has proved when a patient is started on blood-thinning medication such as warfarin, their risk of having a stroke is reduced from between 65 per cent to 75 per cent.

Based on almost 400 patients being prescribed with that medication, doctors say the risk-cutting initiative has stopped or temporarily postponed 16 of those patients from suffering strokes.

NHS Bradford Districts Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) started the campaign to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack in people who are in risk groups and gave itself a three-year target to tackle heart failure, atrial fibrillation which sets off abnormalities in the heart rhythm and also vascular disease which strikes people with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and peripheral arterial disease.

As part of the campaign's first phase, all the CCG’s 41 GP practices began prescribing blood-thinning medication for almost 400 patients and also gave stroke risk therapy.

“To see these results in just a few months since Bradford’s Healthy Hearts campaign was launched is really encouraging," said NHS Bradford Districts Principal Associate for Transformation, Maciek Gwozdziewicz.

He added: “The focus is on improving care for those who have or who are at risk of developing cardio vascular disease (CVD) and we know that as the campaign develops further we are going to be able to help more people avoid suffering a devastating stroke.”

NHS Bradford Districts CCG lead for long-term conditions, Dr Chris Harris, said the importance of a simple pulse check which could help detect any irregularities of the heart.

“Heart Rhythm week is the ideal opportunity for us to highlight heart disease and heart conditions. Atrial Fibrillation for example can dramatically increase the risk of stroke, and sometimes people are unaware they have it. However, a simple pulse check can detect irregularities and then the prescription of anti-coagulants can greatly reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack,” he added.

To find out more about Heart Rhythm Week which ends this Sunday and Arrhythmia Alliance, go to aaaw.org.uk and for more information about atrial fibrillation and the Atrial Fibrillation Association, visit atrialfibrillation.org.uk/