The Century Health Study will compare outcomes over a five year follow-up of patients randomized to either PET guided treatment and intense lifestyle-pharmacologic management or Standard Care guided by conventional SPECT imaging. Our goal is to demonstrate that definitive accurate non-invasive perfusion imaging is a reliable guide to invasive procedures integrated with intense lifestyle support and pharmacologic treatment to LDL and HDL goals in clinical practice.

1. What are the benefits? Weatherhead PET Center
Physicians and Staff
Simple measures such as healthy eating and
physical fitness markedly reduce heart attacks.
We believe that a comprehensive program
supporting healthy lifestyle in addition to
careful medications will be more effective than
standard infrequent instructions on preven-
tion.
You could benefit from this trial by receiv-
ing free electrocardiograms, exercise treadmill
Stefano Sdringola MD K. Lance Gould MD
stress tests, diet evaluations, clinic visits, and
a complete cholesterol profile. The results of
these tests will be given to you and your pri-
mary care physician.
This study also could benefit society by
proving more efficient, cost-effective ways of
diagnosing and treating coronary heart dis-
ease.
Your taking part in this study may help
other people with risk factors, or with heart
disease get better care and hopefully attain a
century of well being.
Mary Haynie RN MBA
Catey Carter RN
For questions or to speak with
one of our physicians or staff,
call:
Century Study Hotline
713-500-5200
Weatherhead PET
Imaging Center
713-500-6611

2. What is the Century Health Study? What will I have to do in the study? The comprehensive Therapy Program is to
support, not substitute for the care provided
The University of Texas Medical School If you have been referred for a nuclear stress by your doctor.
and Memorial Hermann Hospital are col- test (SPECT) and agree to participate in this
laborating on advanced heart treatment in the study, you will sign a consent form and have
What causes heart attack?
CENTURY Health Study. If your doctor has your stress SPECT test done. Then you will
ordered a nuclear scan stress test because you be scheduled for a PET test at no cost to you In coronary heart disease, cholesterol is
have coronary heart disease, or are at risk for and will be randomized (have a 50/50 chance) deposited in walls of coronary arteries due to
it, you may be eligible to participate. to be in one of the following groups: family history of heart disease, abnormal cho-
The purpose of this study is to compare lesterol or blood pressure, diabetes, smoking,
Standard Nuclear Stress Test and Therapy
current standard therapy for coronary heart excess weight and high fat food.
disease (medications, invasive procedures, and You will continue with standard medical In most patients, the first sign is sudden
regular doctor visits) guided by the conven- care as outlined by your physician including heart attack or death due to the cholesterol
tional nuclear stress test (SPECT) with an any recommendations for treatment based on plaque in the wall of the artery suddenly
advanced comprehensive therapy program the results of the SPECT scan only. In addi- rupturing or breaking loose. On contact with
(medications, procedures as needed, with tion, you will be seen by the research study underlying tissue, blood in the artery clots
coaching on healthy lifestyle) guided by a personnel once a year for the five years of the or forms a thrombosis that blocks the artery,
newer stress test called positron emission to- study. These visits will be at no charge to you thereby causing the heart attack.
mography (PET). (we pay parking) and will include labwork Removing the cholesterol deposit from the
Eligible patients must be over the age of 40. with basic chemistry, cholesterol levels and wall of the artery by intense medical manage-
review of your diet and exercise. At each visit, ment reduces the risk of plaque rupture and
the nurse will review your health status, medi- heart attack.
CHOLESTEROL,
PET of the Heart HEART ATTACK AND
cations, weight and blood pressure.
REVERSAL TREATMENT
PET Guided Comprehensive Therapy
You will meet with a cardiologist after
your PET scan for an explanation of your
results. You will be followed closely by the
Diffuse
CENTURY STUDY team with clinic visits Cholesterol
at month 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 of the first year
Plaque
and then every 6 months thereafter in addi- Rupture
tion to seeing your regular doctor. At each
visit, a nurse will review your current health Cholesterol
Plaque
status, medications and measure weight, blood
pressure, and percent body fat. You will have
Thrombosis
a physical exam, see a cardiologist, a dietician
and an exercise specialist. At some visits, blood
tests for chemistry and cholesterol levels may
be drawn. These visits, testing and lab work
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) of are free, at no cost to you. Stabilization by
Heart
Reversal Treatment
early-reduced blood flow in the heart. Attack