Family Atherosclerosis Risk Intervention Study (FARIS)

The Heart Research Centre participated in the Austin Hospital's Family Atherosclerosis Risk Intervention Study (FARIS), which began in 1988 and continued for a number of years. The aim of this project was to monitor and modify the cardiovascular disease risk factor profiles of 628 cardiac patients through offering support, advice and individual treatment in a special hospital-based clinic.  The study simultaneously addressed primary prevention by enrolling 1723 relatives in the study. A high recruitment rate to the program was achieved, with 85% of eligible patients and 83% of eligible relatives attending. Over the past year, the Centre has contributed to the evaluation of the project. Findings confirm that relatives are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease than the general population.  The study showed, further, that patients in the special care group who received additional medical care and advice had better risk factor profiles at 12 months than those who attended for screening only. The program was especially beneficial for those patients who had failed to attend a rehabilitation program during convalescence.

Funding: Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing; VicHealth