Dec. 12, 2012

NATICK, Mass. - The Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) health equity initiative, Close the Gap, will once again be the title sponsor of the Crossroads Classic, one of the premier non-conference events in college basketball.

The Close the Gap Crossroads Classic brings together the four most-storied college basketball programs in the state of Indiana: Butler University, Indiana University, University of Notre Dame and Purdue University. The second annual Close the Gap Crossroads Classic will be held at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Saturday, December 15, 2012.

"Close the Gap became the title sponsor of Crossroads Classic to educate the millions of basketball fans about the importance of heart health," said Mariana Rodrigues, national director of Close the Gap at Boston Scientific. "Knowing the risk factors for heart disease may help someone watching the game take control of their health. We encourage people to take action, check in with their doctors and adopt healthy lifestyles."

Several approaches will be taken to raise awareness of heart disease:
• Fans can meet the Close the Gap team and hospital partner, Indiana University Health (IUH), to learn how to prevent or reduce the chances of developing heart disease
• Dr. Nathan Lambert of IUH will answer medical-related questions or concerns at the Close the Gap booth
• Fans at the game will have chances to win prizes when they play a text contest about heart disease
• The back cover of the game's roster will be an educational piece
• A Close the Gap public service announcement will air during each game
• Educational banners and decals will be displayed throughout the arena

"We want our fans to live long, healthy lives and enjoy as many college basketball games as they can," said Morgan Burke, director of Athletics at Purdue University. In Indiana, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among both men and women and affects all racial and ethnic groups. By partnering with Close the Gap, we can show we care about our fans beyond the basketball court, by educating them about heart disease and how to prevent and treat the No. 1 killer of Americans."

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), a form of heart disease, tragically takes the life of a young competitive athlete every three days in the United States. Most victims are male and more than two thirds of young athletes who die suddenly are basketball and football playersiv. Indiana residents have some of the highest risk factors for heart disease in the United States. For example, 21 percent of people who live in the state smoke whereas the national average is 17 percent; 66 percent are overweight or obese while the national average is 64 percent.

In response, Close the Gap educates men and women on the importance of knowing their risk factors for heart disease, talking to their doctors and taking charge of their heart health. The initiative highlights risk factors that can be controlled: tobacco smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and being overweight, physical inactivity and Type 2 diabetes. The educational initiative also supports screening for SCA in young athletes and sponsors courses in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

The four games will be nationally televised. Indiana will play Butler at 2 p.m. ET, which will be televised on CBS; Purdue will play Notre Dame at 4:30 p.m. ET, which will be televised on ESPN2.

About Close the Gap
Close the Gap is Boston Scientific's health equity initiative. The program helps to ensure all patients have access to high quality cardiac care regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity or primary language. Close the Gap supports educational outreach programs in communities across the United States in partnership with health care providers, professional societies and patient advocacy groups.

For more information on Close the Gap, visit www.your-heart-health.com. Follow news and event updates on Facebook and Twitter at @YourHeartHealth.

About Boston Scientific
Boston Scientific is a worldwide developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices that are used in a broad range of interventional medical specialties. For more information, please visit: www.bostonscientific.com.