Coronary Disease (Hansard, 19 September 2003)

§ Chris Grayling
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government has to research possible links between malfunctioning LOX-1 genes and cardiac arrest. [130060]

§ Miss Melanie Johnson
The Medical Research Council (MRC) supports a range of research into cardiac arrest including ways of targeting genes in vascular disease, but does not have any projects targeting LOX-1 at the present time. The MRC always1274W welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding.
The Department and the Department of Trade and Industry are investing around £15 million to support the development of five genetics knowledge parks over five years. The knowledge parks will carry out research into the genetic components of major diseases, including cardiovascular disease.

§ Chris Grayling
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research the Government have undertaken into the link between tooth loss and subclinical atherosclerosis. [130108]

§ Miss Melanie Johnson
To date, the Government have not commissioned any research into the links between tooth loss and subclinical atherosclerosis, although we are aware of some recent research on this topic.

§ Chris Grayling
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what health advice his Department has issued for people at risk of coronary heart disease. [130109]

§ Miss Melanie Johnson
The Department attaches great importance to preventing coronary heart disease.
The priorities and planning framework for 2003–06 includes targets for reducing the incidence of coronary heart disease. One of these requires practice-based registers for patients with coronary heart disease and diabetes, with systematic treatment regimes, including advice on diet physical activity and smoking. This covers the majority of patients at high risk of coronary heart disease, particularly those with hypertension, diabetes and a body mass index greater than 30.
Programmes are also in place to tackle the risk factors for coronary heart disease in the general population. These take a life-course approach and focus on improvements to diet and nutrition, reducing excess weight and obesity, increasing physical activity and reducing the prevalence of smoking.