Professor Hugh Tunstall-Pedoe, of the University’s Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, has led the world’s largest and longest study of heart disease, stroke and risk factors, which recently delivered its final report in Geneva, Switzerland. The MONICA Monograph and Multimedia Sourcebook, which was begun in 1979, has 70 contributors in total and Professor Tunstall-Pedoe was the editor and chief author.
The World Health Organization MONICA Project (for MONItoring CArdiovascular disease) has published numerous reports over two decades and was responsible for showing the dramatic differences in disease and risk factor rates (coronary disease, stroke, smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol and obesity) between different populations. MONICA prompted many countries to start prevention campaigns and also to monitor those that were already up and running. It also showed the impact of the new treatments introduced in the 1980s and 1990s, both for the acute treatment of heart attacks and for long-term prevention.
With the publications of The MONICA Monograph and Multimedia Sourcebook, all this information is now combined in one book. It has been designed for both professional and lay audiences, is richly illustrated in full colour and explains the project, its methods and its results. Every country has contributed and the book is generously sponsored by WHO, the European Commission, medical charities and by industry, to be readily affordable to all.
The Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit at the University played a leading role in the WHO MONICA Project and was a quality control centre of the project through two decades. This Unit is part of The Institute of Cardiovascular Research (TICR) which has also held a ‘Healthy Heart Week’ in support of the TICR Appeal.
Professor Tunstall-Pedoe said, "MONICA is a model for others of how collaboration across political and national boundaries can tackle problems shared by all of us, as well as providing results and ideas that will fascinate everyone interested in heart disease, stroke and risk factors."