Health Sciences
Research
The Cardiovascular Health Research Group (CHRG) is leading national and international collaborative research for the benefit of patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). The CHRG continues to produce high-quality research and research impact that is driving the quality of, and outcomes from, cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation services. Our research is enabled through the Department of Health Sciences which is acknowledged as a world-leading research environment (92 per cent of our research rated as world-leading (4*) for impact.) in the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). The CHRG has a track record in supporting early career researchers and PhD students to be successful researchers. The following is a flavour of the research we are presently involved in:
NACR-UK
NACR-UK is a collaborative project between the National Audit of Cardiac Rehabilitation (NACR), NHS Digital and BHF. NACR monitors service quality and patient outcomes at a local, regional and national level and has created a huge dataset which has enabled its researchers to identify the characteristics of top-performing cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation services. Our research has led to the creation of national clinical minimum standards which inform the National Certification Programme for cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation services .
Effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation and prevention programmes in routine practice
Professor Doherty is co-leading on observational research investigating the effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation and prevention programmes in routine practice. This is a collaborative project with the Danish Cardiac Rehab Registry.
The Cardiac Rehabilitation Outcome Study (CROS)
The prognostic effect of cardiac rehabilitation in the era of acute revascularisation and statin therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised and non-randomised studies. The Cardiac Rehabilitation Outcome Study (CROS). Our first paper from this research was published in 2016 and has re-affirmed the effectiveness of in the modern era of cardiology.
REACH-HF
REACH-HF is an independent research programme funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under its Programme Grants for Applied Research scheme.
CopenHeart
CopenHeart project is Danish led project examining the effects of rehabilitation including complex cardiac patients compared to the physical and psychosocial functioning. The project also highlights the effect of rehabilitation in relation to morbidity, care consumption and mortality and the economic and organisational consequences of rehabilitation.
Professor Doherty is a co-researcher and PhD supervisor on the CopenHeart project, a collaboration with the University of Copenhagen (2013-).
Mortality trends in cardiology
Professor Doherty is involved with PhD supervision at the University of Heidelberg with co-supervisor Dr Geraldine Rauch investigating mortality trends in cardiology and after rehabilitation (2013-).
Chair based exercise home programme evaluation
Professor Doherty first developed a chair based exercise (CBE) programme in 2007 which he updated in 2011 to align with needs of patients with heart failure. The CBE programme is being evaluated as part of NIHR study (REACH-HF) which will complete in 2018.
