The U.S. Air Force HEART Program: The Air Force perspective

The U.S. Air Force Health Evaluation and Risk Tabulation (HEART) Program was initiated to design and test a preventive cardiology program for active-duty Air Force members. Most cardiovascular incidents in active-duty personnel occur at a career point which significantly magnifies their operational and fiscal effect as the bulk of events disable or kill personnel during their years of peak productivity. A registered nurse managed the program at each of the four demonstration bases. The number of medical technicians and health counselors varied according to base population. The program includes risk factor screening, risk ranking, basewide education, and focal group intervention for those at high risk. Screening consisted of a health and habits questionnaire, blood pressure measurement, serum glucose, serum total and HDL cholesterol, as well as serum thiocyanate and exhaled carbon monoxide. The total population screened at first screen was 12,000 and 8,000 are expected at second screen. It is likely that due to the military capability for long-term follow-up, primary prevention begun at the time of entry to active duty could effectively reduce the number of cardiovascular events experienced yearly in the Air Force. The final product of HEART will be a detailed plan for an Air Force-wide preventive cardiology plan.