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  3. Barts Cardiovascular Clinical Trials Unit (CVCTU)
  4. Barts Sex-CAD Study

Barts Sex-CAD Study: Investigating how sex hormone levels affect heart disease in women

Investigating how sex hormone levels affect heart disease.

What is the Barts Sex-CAD study?

The Barts Sex-CAD study is a research project exploring whether sex hormones such as oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone influence inflammation and coronary artery disease (CAD).

This study is led by Queen Mary University of London and Barts Heart Centre and will analyse questionnaire responses and clinical data from patients previously treated at Barts for chest pain. We aim to better understand sex differences in heart disease and improve treatments for the future.                                                                                                

Why is this research important?

Heart disease affects men and women differently. Women often experience heart attacks later in life and may not respond to treatments in the same way as men. Despite this, women have historically been underrepresented in cardiovascular research.

The Barts Sex-CAD study focuses on:

  • Understanding the role of sex hormones in CAD
  • Identifying whether hormonal patterns influence heart attack risk
  • Informing better, personalised treatments for women with heart disease

Who can take part?

You may be eligible if:

  • You attended Barts Heart Centre with chest pain
  • You are aged 16 or over

You will not be eligible if:

  • You are under 16
  • You do not have capacity to consent
  • Your chest pain was clearly unrelated to coronary artery disease

What will taking part involve?

If you agree to take part:

  • You’ll be asked to complete a 10-minute questionnaire about your medical and hormonal history (including menstrual history for women) over the telephone.
  • We will review relevant data already collected during your hospital care at Barts Heart Centre

Your data will be anonymised before analysis. There are no medical procedures and no need to attend an in-person visit.

I’ve received a text message – what should I do?

You’ve been contacted because you previously attended Barts Heart Centre with chest pain, and may be eligible to take part in this research.

Here’s what to do next:

  1. Read the Invitation Letter: 📄 Download the Invitation Letter [DOC 274KB]
  2. Read the Participant Information Sheet (PIS): 📄 Download the Barts Sex-CAD Participant Information Sheet [PDF 190KB]
  3. A member of the team will phone you to find out whether you would like to take part, they will ask for your verbal consent and carry out the questionnaire over the phone
  4. If you’d prefer not to be contacted, just let us know.

Email: vascpharm-clinicalstudies@qmul.ac.uk

Who is running the study?

This study is led by researchers at Queen Mary University of London in collaboration with Barts Heart Centre.

  • Chief Investigator: Dr Krishnaraj Rathod – Senior Clinical Lecturer & Consultant Cardiologist
  • Co-Investigators:
    • Dr Andrew J. Sullivan – Clinical Research Fellow
    • Prof Amrita Ahluwalia – Professor of Vascular Pharmacology
    • Prof Anthony Mathur – Professor of Cardiology

Additional Resources

For more information about your rights, data privacy, and how research is conducted in the UK, you may find the following resources useful:

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