RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The Fremantle Primary Prevention Study: a multicentre randomised trial of absolute cardiovascular risk reduction JF British Journal of General Practice JO Br J Gen Pract FD British Journal of General Practice SP e22 OP e28 DO 10.3399/bjgp12X616337 VO 62 IS 594 A1 Tom Brett A1 Diane Arnold-Reed A1 Cam Phan A1 Frances Cadden A1 William Walker A1 Wendy Manea-Walley A1 Noelene Mora A1 Julie Young A1 Max Bulsara YR 2012 UL http://bjgp.org/content/62/594/e22.abstract AB Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of global mortality. Risk factor management in clinical practice often relies on relative risk modification rather than the more appropriate absolute risk assessment.Aim To determine whether patients receiving more-frequently designated GP visits had increased benefit in terms of their absolute CVD risk assessment, as compared with patients in receipt of their usual GP care.Design and setting Prospective, open, pragmatic block randomised study in a 1:1 group allocation ratio in three Western Australian general practices.Method A convenience sample (n = 1200) of patients aged 40–80 years were randomised to 3-monthly GP visits (five in total for the intensive) or usual GP care (two in total for the opportunistic), with 12 months’ follow-up. The main outcome was absolute CVD risk scores based on the New Zealand Cardiovascular Risk Calculator. Others outcome measures were weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, and fasting blood lipids and glucose.Results There were 600 patients per group at baseline. At 12 months’ analysis there were 543 in the intensive group and 569 in the opportunistic group. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) absolute CVD risk reduced significantly between baseline and 12 months in the intensive group (6.28% [5.11] to 6.10% [4.94]) but not in the opportunistic group (6.27% [5.10] to 6.24% [5.38]). There was a significant reduction between baseline and 12 months in mean (SD) total cholesterol (5.28 mmol/l [0.94] to 5.08 mmol/l [0.96]); low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.08 mmol/l [0.87] to 2.95 mmol/l [0.89]); triglyceride (1.45 mmol/l [0.86] to 1.36 mmol/l [0.84]); and in mean (SD) waist circumference in men (98.74 cm [10.70] to 97.13 cm [10.20]) and females (90.64 cm [14.62] to 88.96 cm [14.00]) in the intensive group.Conclusion A targeted approach using absolute risk calculators can be used in primary care to modify global CVD risk assessment.