FAQ
CPO Project
The Cardio Policy Optimiser (CPO) is an innovative project aimed at improving public health policies related to cardiovascular health by analyzing data and running advanced simulations of these policies. Coordinated by the NOVA Center for Global Health Lab at NOVA IMS and funded by Novartis Europe, the CPO uses an epidemiology-based model and a mathematical algorithm to integrate genetic, sociodemographic, comorbidity, and lifestyle data. Using the CPO simulator, users can explore epidemiological scenarios and visualize the potential impact of different health policies, providing a decision-support tool for policymakers, healthcare professionals, NGOs, and patient associations. The project encompasses data validation by experts from the National Advisory Board of each country where the model is implemented, ensuring that the simulations reflect national realities. Find more information here.
Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) is a chronic condition characterized by the buildup of fatty plaques, cholesterol, and other substances in the walls of arteries. These deposits can cause artery narrowing or blockage, leading to various health issues, depending on the affected artery, including coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, heart failure, carotid problems, aneurysms, and kidney problems. Find more information here.
The main objectives of the CPO project consist in providing robust data to support informed decision-making related to cardiovascular diseases, improve the quality of life for people living with these diseases, and reduce the societal impact of cardiovascular diseases. Find more information here.
Implementing health policies that promote healthy lifestyles, facilitate access to preventive care, and introduce educational and intervention programs can reduce the risks associated with cardiovascular diseases. Find more information here.
The CPO project team consists of healthcare professionals, health managers, policymakers, academics, data analysts, communication specialists, and representatives of patient associations. Find more information here.
The CPO project is coordinated by the NOVA Center for Global Health Lab at NOVA IMS and sponsored by Novartis Europe. Find more information here.
This research is conducted independently, ensuring the integrity and objectivity of results, in accordance with the Code of Ethics and Deontology for Scientific Research of Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
Policy Simulator
The CPO simulator is available to the general public and is especially useful for policymakers, healthcare professionals, NGOs, patient associations, and anyone interested in improving cardiovascular health. The platform is user-friendly, regardless of knowledge levels about the disease, policies, or technical aspects of the simulator, also providing bibliographic resources.
Everyone can benefit from using the CPO simulator to make informed decisions based on reliable data regarding cardiovascular health policies.
The simulator is especially useful for those advocating for better cardiovascular health, such as healthcare professionals, policymakers, researchers, patient associations, and others interested in this area.
The CPO project uses an epidemiologically-based model, supported by a mathematical algorithm, whose data are presented through the CPO Simulator. The simulator integrates genetic data, sociodemographics, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors to generate policy intervention scenarios, including health outcomes and associated costs, aiming to reduce the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular diseases. Find more information here.
The National Advisory Board (NAB) has evaluated and selected 12 public health policies for the CPO project, based on their effectiveness in reducing the impact of cardiovascular diseases on society. The policies are organized according to the Cure Cascade, including Prevention, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Linkage-to-Care. Policies
- Smoke-free environments and tobacco taxation.
- Counseling programs on physical activities and creating appropriate environments for all population groups, emphasizing schools and workplaces.
- Awareness campaigns and media on ASCVD and its risk factors.
- Reformulation of food products and development of interventions, particularly in public institutions, to reduce the sugar, salt and fat content.
- Marketing restrictions on foods high in sugar, salt and fat.
- Lp(a) testing in all individuals, at least once in their lifetime, especially in high-risk individuals.
- LDL-C screening programs.
- Hypertension screening programs.
- Easy access to high quality and affordable services for vulnerable populations.
- Patient-centered health services for the entire population.
- Improving health education (health literacy + health citizenship) for the entire population.
- Improvement of health information technology assessment for healthcare professionals.
Find more information here.
More Information
The simulator is currently available in English and will be adapted to Portuguese and French.
Yes, the simulator can be accessed on computers, smartphones, and tablets, through the web version or mobile applications available for iOS and Android.