The University of Glasgow is bringing together experts in the field of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) to discuss how the high rates of this illness in Scotland could be prevented, during a one-day conference to be held at the Thistle Hotel on Thursday 16 September.

The prevalence of CHD is known to be high in Britain, and Coronary Heart Disease is one of the biggest causes of illness and death in Scotland. Poor diet, smoking and lack of exercise have been recognised as serious health risks, and the development of the disease can be influenced through lifestyle changes.

Conference speaker Aileen Keel, The Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the Scottish Executive Health Department, explains:

'Reducing mortality from CHD is a longstanding priority for the Scottish Executive. The Health Department Strategy for CHD and Stroke was published in October 2002, building on the CHD and Stroke Task Force Report of the previous year. This demonstrated that over recent decades significant reductions in mortality have taken place. But more needs to be done. The conference, with its focus on risk factors, rightly raises the profile of prevention as a means of further reducing mortality from coronary heart disease in Scotland.'

Dr Naveed Sattar, a reader and a consultant at Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences at the University will inform the audience that there is a little evidence to support the benefit of vitamin supplementation in preventing cardiovascular disease.

The way in which body weight influences the development of CHD is considered by Dr Catherine Hankey, lecturer of Human Nutrition at the University, in her presentation entitled 'Obesity, overweight and cardiovascular disease'.

Gordon Lowe, Professor of Vascular Medicine at the University of Glasgow will be speaking about recent advances in knowledge and practice of drug treatment.

The other speakers at the conference include Dr Dalia Malkova, Lecturer in Sports Nutrition at the University of Glasgow, who will speak on the effects of exercise in preventing cardiovascular disease. Dr Jane Scott, lecturer in Public Health Nutrition at the University of Glasgow, will concentrate on the protective qualities of the Mediterranean diet. Dr Nino Binns of McNeil Nutritionals will talk about functional foods and their benefits, and Kawaldip Sehmi from QUIT will outline the mechanisms through which smoking can cause heart disease.

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

For more information prior to the conference, please contact Carolyn Fraser, Short Course Development and Conference Manager, Division of Developmental Medicine, University of Glasgow, on 0141 201-9264. On the day of the conference Carolyn can be reached at 0796 656 1474.

Alternatively contact Mike Findlay in the University Press Office on 0141 330-3535.

First published: 10 September 2004