Simple test can predict your risk of fatal heart attack in the next 3 years
A SIMPLE test could predict your risk of a fatal heart attack in the next three years - saving thousands of lives, experts hope.
The blood test is already used in hospitals to diagnose other conditions but could now be used to streamline how patients are treated following a suspected heart attack.
Experts at the British heart Foundation say that every five minutes in the UK, someone is admitted to hospital with a heart attack.
It's estimated that there are also 1.4 million people who have survived a heart attack.
Researchers at the , Imperial College London found that measuring levels of the C-reactive protein (CRP) - a sign of inflammation - can better identify who is at risk of dying in the next three years.
The protein can be present in the blood of people after a heart attack.
As a result, the test could ensure those that need it most are given more aggressive treatment and are monitored more closely.
And those identified as low risk could be give reassurances and be sent home.
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At present, when doctors think a person has had a heart attack they conduct a blood test for troponin.
This is a protein which is released into the blood stream when the heart is damaged.
Scientists now say that measuring CRP levels at the same time can provide a more detailed picture to show which patients pose the biggest risk.
The researchers looked at data from more than 250,000 patients who had been admitted to hospital with a suspected heart attack.
Normally the level of CRP in the blood is 2 mg/L or under.
But they found a mildly raised measurement of 10-15 mg/L CRP in those with a positive troponin test, predicted a greater than 35 per cent chance of death three years later.
The results of the study will also open the door for more targeted treatment for heart attack patients who suffer life-threatening inflammation.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
While identifying those at higher risk of suffering a heart attack is the first step, scientists believe the new blood test to measure CRP levels, could lead to better treatments.
Dr Ramzi Khamis, from Imperial College and BHF, is hoping to test an anti-inflammatory drug, colchicine.
It's already been found to help stop the build up of fatty deposits in the arteries that increases the risk of heart attack.
And now, Dr Khamis's team hopes to give the drug to patients with high CRP levels, to determine if it can help increase a person's chance of survival after a heart attack.
The heart attack signs you must never ignore
The heart muscle is then robbed of vital oxygenated blood which, if left untreated, can cause the heart muscle to begin to die, but what are the symptoms?
Heart attack symptoms can be difficult to spot for sure, because they can vary from person to person.
The most common signs include:
- chest pain, tightness, heaviness, pain or a burning feeling in your chest
- pain in the arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach
- for some people the pain and tightness will be severe, while for others it will just feel uncomfortable
- sweating
- feeling light-headed
- becoming short of breath
- feeling nauseous or vomiting
"Testing for this biological ‘red flag’ at the same time as other hospital tests identifies those more vulnerable patients who should be receiving closer medical attention," he said.
"Importantly, we hope with more research, we can be successful in developing new therapies that specifically combat inflammation to improve outcomes in heart disease."
Experts have said that the test could be a valuable new tool in doctors' arsenal to treat the millions of people who have suffered a heart attack.
Professor James Leiper, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation said: "By better identifying which people are most at risk, this simple blood test could help to direct anti-inflammatory treatments to those who most need it.”
EYE SPY
Previously, scientists revealed that a simple eye test can predict your risk of a deadly heart attack.
In January, scientists developed an artificial intelligence (AI) system that analyses scans taken during routine opticians visits.
It then identifies those patients with changes in the tiny blood vessels of the retina, which can indicate vascular disease, and raise the risk of heart attack.
The AI system was trained by University of Leeds scientists to read eye scans and find those people who were likely to have a heart attack in the following 12 months.
SPIT IT OUT
Meanwhile, other tests can use a person's spit sample to assess their genetic risk of high blood pressure - which in turn can increase your risk of a heart attack.
Researchers at Queen Mary University London and Imperial College London have identified 535 genes linked to the condition.
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The team says a third of the risk is inherited.
Identifying those with a high genetic risk at an early age would allow doctors to stress to them the importance of a healthy lifestyle sooner.
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