Watch To Learn
Watch a one-minute video about the PRE-EMPT Study.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., but we don't routinely screen for it. The PRE-EMPT study aims to change that.
Just like we screen for cancer with mammograms and colonoscopies, we need to start screening for signs of early heart disease, especially in adults who feel healthy and are thought to be at low risk.
This screening finds plaque or cholesterol deposits in the walls of the heart arteries that can break apart and cause a heart attack. Because, 1 in 3 heart attacks happens in people younger than 55.
If plaque is present in the heart arteries, how can we best shrink or stop its growth and prevent heart attacks? The PRE-EMPT study also seeks to answer that question with randomization to three treatment approaches in addition to lifestyle coaching.
Join PRE-EMPT to help us learn how to detect and treat early signs of heart disease before they become dangerous.
Protect your heart. Protect your future.
You may qualify for the study if you are a man, age 30-50, or woman age 40-60, without heart disease, and have any of the following:
High cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, you smoke or have other risk factors for heart disease.
A family history of early-onset heart disease, such as a direct family member with a heart attack or stroke before age 65 (women) or 55 (men).
A CT scan that showed evidence of plaque within the last three years.
Do you have plaque buildup?
Heart disease is called a "silent killer" because a gradual buildup of calcium (plaque) in the heart arteries doesn't produce symptoms until a soft plaque in the artery breaks, and a blood clot in the vessel causes a heart attack.
How do you join the PRE-EMPT study?
- The PRE-EMPT Connect screening tool (Coming Soon!) will tell you more about the study and see if you are likely to qualify.
- Next, you will be linked to a site near you. After you talk to a study coordinator and enroll, you will be screened for plaque.
- If your scans show early plaque, you may qualify for a 2-year trial to see if commonly prescribed medications can reduce it.
Learn all the details about the study on the FAQ page.
Share with a friend!
Do you know someone else who might be a good fit for the study? Send them a link to the website https://preemptstudy.org so they can learn about the study. Thank you for your help.
Why should you participate?
As part of the study, you will have a chance to learn about your own heart health. You’ll also get a Fitbit that tracks your steps, sleep, and heart rate. It works with your phone to give personalized, cardiologist-approved tips for healthy habits. You'll be compensated for your time.
By joining PRE-EMPT, you will also help doctors learn how to stop heart disease before it strikes. Your help could make heart checkups as common and lifesaving as mammograms or colonoscopies.
Are you ready to stop your heart attack before it stops you?
Instead of waiting for serious heart problems to happen, the study focuses on catching early signs and treating them, potentially saving lives and making preventive care more accessible for more people.
Who We Are
PRE-EMPT stands for Prospective Randomized Evaluation and Management of Premature Atherosclerosis.
The PRE-EMPT study is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and run by the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Massachusetts General Hospital. It is supported by about 20+ research sites around the U.S.