Zaščitni pleiotropni učinki nizkih odmerkov zaviralcev sistema renin-angiotenzin in statinov pri zdravi populaciji srednjih let (Slovene)

The incidence of cardiovascular diseases is, despite of current therapeutic approaches, still rising in Western world and also in Slovenia. Therefore, new approaches for early prevention of these diseases, with the goal of prevention and treatment or postponing the onset of clinical signs of diseases to later life cycles, open new possibilities for better medical treatment and contribute to improving the quality of life. The content of this project represents a new, innovative idea for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Globally, the content of the project for the first time represents the investigation of subtherapeutic doses of statins and renin-angiotensin blockers on the morphological and functional arterial wall changes, which are characteristic for the vascular aging. Models used for the study are suitable for monitoring early functional and morphologic changes that are clinically still silent. The research findings will also contribute to a better understanding of the concept of cardiovascular disease progression and will be the basis for the development of doctrine for their prevention.

In Slovenia are currently in clinical practice introduced ultrasound methods to assign morphological characteristics of arteries. The ultrasound methods used in this study, in Slovenia has not been implemented yet, currently are also being introduced in the major world centers. So the methods represent a novelty in Slovenia as well as globally. These methods enable us to find early functional arterial wall changes that progressively lead to morphological ones with ageing. The content of the project is designed to be coordinated with the development policy of Slovenia in the field of health of citizens. The interaction of the results from preclinical and clinical research will allow better and faster transfer of knowledge into clinical practice, which in turn will lead to early inhibition and prevention of cardiovascular and degenerative diseases, and more effective therapy. Improving the health of the population is particularly important in the aging population, such as Slovenian and also European population is becoming. New approaches and improvement of the health status in terms of early treatment and prevention of these diseases with sub-therapeutic doses of drugs will lower the costs of the treatments and also the pressure on health care. Health status of the employed population will also be improved, which means greater performance and better professional development. Reducing the absence from work due to health problems is clearly an objective of Slovenia. The results of the study are applicative.