Drug treatment may also be thought of.Olav Wendelboe Nielsen analysis registrar [email protected] Cardiovascular Department Y, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2400 Bispebjerg, Denmark J gen Hilden lecturer Department of Biostatistics, Copenhagen University, 2200 Panum Institute, Denmark Jens Svanegaard chief physician Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Haderslev Hospital, Denmark J gen Fischer Hansen chief consultant Cardiovascular Department Y, Copenhagen University Hospital, 2400 BispebjergEthnic minorities have specific wants with regard to cardiovascular riskEditor–The identification of individuals at higher risk of coronary heart disease is crucial for preventive clinical care.1 2 Robson et al state that a reduction of absolute cardiovascular threat inside the tenth from the population with coronary threat >30 is likely to become cost useful.3 South Asians and Afro-Caribbeans in the United kingdom are at elevated danger of coronary heart illness and stroke, respectively, compared with individuals of European ethnicity. The majority of the Uk populations studied for assessment of cardiovascular danger haven’t, however, been stratified by ethnic group, and small investigation has been performed into components affecting uptake of preventive care in such patients. We recently performed a pilot study of assessment of cardiovascular danger variables in south Asian and Afro-Caribbean patients aged 16-79 attending a single south London practice.four We located that half had at the least two danger variables for cardiovascular illness. Ladies had been less likely than men to become smokers (relative risk 0.4; 95 self-confidence interval 0.2 to 0.eight) but a lot more probably to take little or no exercise (1.7; 1.1 to two.5). Focus groups recommended that barriers to successful well being promotion incorporated lack of awareness of danger, language difficulties, and cultural and life-style differences. Motivational state and lack of perceived or actual risk may possibly also lead to delays in in search of healthcare assistance even soon after threat elements have already been identified. An C29 additional London primarily based study discovered that hypertensive sufferers of Afro-Caribbean ethnicity had been significantly less most likely to work with antihypertensive drugs than have been sufferers of European ethnicity.5 Common practitioners and principal care groups figuring out regional policies for coronary disease prevention have to be aware of your precise demands of ethnic minority groups.Mariam Molokhia clinical analysis fellow Epidemiology Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT [email protected] Pippa Oakeshott senior lecturer Department of General Practice, St George’s Hospital Healthcare College, London SW17 0RECareer improvement in public healthDoctors need to lead public wellness departments Editor–McPherson’s letter exemplifies the problem inherent within the demedicalisation of public wellness medicine.1 Certainly the top quality in the instruction offered to non-medical public wellness workers wants to become improved. So do career and pay structures to recruit and retain these extremely skilled men and women PubMed ID:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20184987 from a range of specialties who make up the public well being group, specifically public wellness infection manage nurses, who’re in incredibly quick supply. A broad range of capabilities is needed to produce public well being teams functionBMJ VOLUME 321 eight JULY 2000 bmj.comLettersproperly inside the actual globe. Distinct members with the group bring various know-how and skills, and these are not readily interchangeable. But McPherson trivialises what medical coaching is. A health-related degree is a lot more than studying.