Case study: Taking part in cardiovascular research: John's story

Buckingham’s John Barnett, 69, was invited to take part in a study into heart diseases after he attended Milton Keynes University Hospital’s A&E with chest pains in March.

He woke up with pain on the left side of his chest and back. Wife Gill, a retired nurse, phoned 111 and an ambulance was sent as it was suspected John had had a heart attack.

He was taken to Milton Keynes University Hospital where an electrocardiogram determined he had not had a heart attack. 

Patients who report chest pains without a heart attack are usually discharged with no further testing.  However, John was invited to take part in the TARGET-CTCA study, which uses a computed tomography coronary angiogram (CTCA) heart scan to look for previously unidentified heart disease and prevent heart attacks in those who have experienced chest pains. The effectiveness of the scan is compared to those who received standard care.

It found John had blockages in his arteries which could spread and block the artery if left untreated.  It also found his aorta, the largest artery which carries blood from the heart, had doubled in size, likely as a result of having high blood pressure for so long. 

He was prescribed statins to reduce blood cholesterol and break down the blockages in his arteries and his blood pressure medication was increased. He will have further scans to see if his blood pressure reduces.

John said: “I had no idea that something else could be wrong once my pain was attributed to muscular, so I’m so relieved these issues have been picked up.”

The grandfather-of-two, said: “I’m so pleased that I was invited to take part in the trial and have all these things diagnosed before it’s too late. If it wasn’t for the study, I wouldn’t have known about my heart issues.”

John, a retired psychotherapist, said: “The communication and the care I have received have been amazing. I don’t think I could have had better treatment.”

Talk to your healthcare professional about taking part in research or search for studies seeking volunteers at Be Part of Research.