Personalised cardiovascular prevention in primary care: feasibility results from the FitPreV trial
Abstract
Background: Cardiovascular disease prevention requires strategies for individuals at elevated metabolic risk. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) may refine risk stratification, while wearable health devices (WHDs) may support lifestyle change through self-monitoring. FitPreV assessed the feasibility and acceptability of integrating PRS-based risk communication and WHD-supported behavioural monitoring into primary cardiovascular prevention within the Italian NHS.
Methods: FitPreV (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06911294) is a pilot RCT conducted in seven general practices in Rome. Adults aged 40–69 with metabolic syndrome and 10-year cardiovascular risk of 2.5–10% were randomized to standard counselling, WHD-supported, PRS-informed, or combined intervention. Feasibility was assessed through recruitment, retention and eCRF completeness. Acceptability, participant-reported outcomes, blood tests and clinical measurements were evaluated at 12 months.
Results: Of 160 eligible individuals, 120 were enrolled (recruitment rate of 75%). Overall, 82 participants completed follow-up, resulting in a retention rate of 68.3%, while eCRF completeness exceeded 90%. PRS disclosure was well accepted: 58.5% reported no anxiety, and 70.7% stated that PRS information motivated preventive behaviours. WHD use was well tolerated, with 56.4% reporting use for ≥9 months. GP acceptability was high, with 89% considering PRS integrable into practice, although self-efficacy in using PRS remained limited. Participants reported improved lifestyle behaviours, with no significant differences across arms.
Conclusions: FitPreV suggests that integrating PRS-informed risk communication and WHD-supported self-monitoring into primary cardiovascular prevention is feasible and acceptable. These findings support a definitive trial and highlight the need to strengthen providers’ confidence in using innovative prevention tools.
Funding: Next Generation EU, Italian Ministry of University and Research (grant no. P20229BC5H).
Key messages: • Personalised cardiovascular prevention using polygenic risk scores and wearable devices can be feasibly integrated into routine primary care.
• Before wider health-system adoption, a definitive trial is needed with stronger strategies to improve participant retention.
Related
- Lipoprotein(a) as a cardiovascular risk accelerator in primary prevention: Age-equivalent risk and event-free survival at 10 years in the UK biobank
- Comparative effectiveness of lipid-lowering therapies for primary cardiovascular prevention: a network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials
- Cost-effectiveness of statin-based primary prevention of cardiovascular disease with electronic pillboxes for people with HIV in China
- Time-to-Statin Prescription for Primary Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in a Lung Cancer Screening Program in Missouri: A Retrospective Cohort Study
- Development and internal validation of a 5-year major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events prediction model using a simplified carotid plaque score in a hospital-based primary-prevention cohort
BibTeX
@article{cuoco2026personalised,
title = {{Personalised cardiovascular prevention in primary care: feasibility results from the FitPreV trial}},
author = {F L Cuoco and S A Sottile and A N Romano and M F Cuoco and L E Terenzi and T I Pasciuto and C H De Waure and S T Boccia and R O Pastorino},
journal = {The European Journal of Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1111},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1111},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Personalised cardiovascular prevention in primary care: feasibility results from the FitPreV trial
AU - F L Cuoco
AU - S A Sottile
AU - A N Romano
AU - M F Cuoco
AU - L E Terenzi
AU - T I Pasciuto
AU - C H De Waure
AU - S T Boccia
AU - R O Pastorino
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - The European Journal of Public Health
DO - 10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1111
UR - https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckag169.1111
AB - Background: Cardiovascular disease prevention requires strategies for individuals at elevated metabolic risk. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) may refine risk stratification, while wearable health devices (WHDs) may support lifestyle change through self-monitoring. FitPreV assessed the feasibility and acceptability of integrating PRS-based risk communication and WHD-supported behavioural monitoring into primary cardiovascular prevention within the Italian NHS. Methods: FitPreV (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06911294) is a pilot RCT conducted in seven general practices in Rome. Adults aged 40–69 with metabolic syndrome and 10-year cardiovascular risk of 2.5–10% were randomized to standard counselling, WHD-supported, PRS-informed, or combined intervention. Feasibility was assessed through recruitment, retention and eCRF completeness. Acceptability, participant-reported outcomes, blood tests and clinical measurements were evaluated at 12 months. Results: Of 160 eligible individuals, 120 were enrolled (recruitment rate of 75%). Overall, 82 participants completed follow-up, resulting in a retention rate of 68.3%, while eCRF completeness exceeded 90%. PRS disclosure was well accepted: 58.5% reported no anxiety, and 70.7% stated that PRS information motivated preventive behaviours. WHD use was well tolerated, with 56.4% reporting use for ≥9 months. GP acceptability was high, with 89% considering PRS integrable into practice, although self-efficacy in using PRS remained limited. Participants reported improved lifestyle behaviours, with no significant differences across arms. Conclusions: FitPreV suggests that integrating PRS-informed risk communication and WHD-supported self-monitoring into primary cardiovascular prevention is feasible and acceptable. These findings support a definitive trial and highlight the need to strengthen providers’ confidence in using innovative prevention tools. Funding: Next Generation EU, Italian Ministry of University and Research (grant no. P20229BC5H). Key messages: • Personalised cardiovascular prevention using polygenic risk scores and wearable devices can be feasibly integrated into routine primary care. • Before wider health-system adoption, a definitive trial is needed with stronger strategies to improve participant retention.
SN - 1101-1262
SN - 1464-360X
ER -