Next Generation Population Health – A milestone for CVD prevention in Wales

Next Generation Population Health: Demonstrating a comprehensive approach to risk prediction and prevention for cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients. This work marks an important milestone in our shared ambition to transform cardiovascular disease prevention across Wales and to demonstrate what is possible when data-driven insight, system innovation, and collaborative ambition come together. Cardiovascular disease remains one of the most significant causes of death and ill‑health in Wales, accounting for around 30% of all deaths each year. Its impact on the healthcare system is equally profound, contributing to 7% of inpatient admissions and nearly 1 in 10 emergency attendances. Yet we know that atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the most prevalent form of CVD, is highly preventable when we focus on modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, raised cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, physical inactivity, diet, and obesity. These challenges provided the impetus for the strategic partnership formed in 2022 between the Tritech Institute within Hywel Dda University Health Board, Amgen ltd, and the Joint Clinical Research Facility (JCRF) between Swansea Bay University Health Board and Swansea University. Our shared goal was to explore how a ‘Learning Lab’ model could be used to advance population risk prediction and deliver high‑intensity interventions within NHS Wales, targeting improved outcomes for those at greatest risk. Through Phase 1, we harnessed the capabilities of Wales’ world‑leading Data & Informatics ecosystem (SAIL Databank) in Swansea University, to understand the scale of the CVD burden and identify cohorts most at risk of future ASCVD events. Through Phase 2, we worked to design, deliver, and evaluate focused interventions for high‑risk patient groups, testing new approaches to improving access to evidence‑based treatment, reducing the treatment gap, and addressing inequalities within our communities across Hywel Dda and Swansea Bay. What makes this publication particularly meaningful is not just the findings themselves, but what they represent: Value for patients and the public, by improving outcomes, supporting empowerment, and enabling behaviour change. Value for the healthcare system, by reducing unwarranted variation and creating evidence that can inform national population health strategy, planning, and policy. Value for industry and innovation partners, by demonstrating how strategic collaboration with a national health system can shape and scale innovative access models across the UK and internationally. This programme has been rooted in a shared commitment to innovation, equity, and evidence‑based care. By drawing on Wales’ rich informatics infrastructure and fostering a culture of disciplined experimentation, we have generated insights that will support health systems in responding more optimally to the growing challenge of cardiovascular disease. Further peer‑reviewed publications in the European Heart Journal Open and the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology are included, along with additional links to related manuscripts and abstracts. Manuscripts: https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjopen/oeaf158 https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwae233 Abstracts https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/circ.150.suppl_1.4139823 https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circ.152.suppl_3.4365798 https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circ.152.suppl_3.4365845