The PROACT 3 clinical trial is designed to evaluate whether disclosure of a polygenic risk score for CAD PRS influences cardiovascular health and risk factor modification over one year.
This is a single-center, randomized clinical trial conducted within the Mass General Brigham primary care network. Adults aged 30-75 years without cardiovascular disease and not currently taking LDL cholesterol-lowering medications will be identified through electronic health record queries. A total of 500 participants will be enrolled.
All participants will undergo CAD PRS testing. Participants will then be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two groups: an immediate disclosure group, in which participants receive their CAD PRS results, or a deferred disclosure group, in which results are returned after approximately 12 months.
The primary outcome is the change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from baseline to 12 months. Secondary outcomes include change in cardiovascular health as measured by the American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score, as well as measures of engagement with preventive care. These include completion of lipid panels and blood pressure measurements, attendance at primary care visits, and initiation of preventive therapies (including antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, or glucose-lowering therapies) when clinically indicated. Additional outcomes include changes in individual LE8 behavioral components (physical activity, diet, tobacco use, and sleep) and body mass index from baseline to 12 months.
This trial will provide empirical evidence on the impact of disclosing CAD PRS results across the spectrum of genetic risk and will help inform best practices for the integration of polygenic risk information into preventive cardiovascular care.
