New blood test ‘predicts YOUR risk of these deadly diseases three years BEFORE symptoms start’
SCIENTISTS have developed a blood test that identifies patients at increased risk of chronic illnesses three years before they occur.
It predicted diabetes, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke and dementia with 78 per cent accuracy in trials.
Doctors used a formula that combined the patient’s age and test results to generate an index, named the Intermountain Chronic Disease Risk Score.
Women with a high ICHRON score were 11 times more likely to be diagnosed with a chronic disease within three years than those with a low score.
The difference for men was 14 times.
Those identified as “high risk” can be more closely monitored by their GP.
They can also make lifestyle changes, such as adopting a healthy diet, exercising more, and quitting smoking.
Around 15million people in England have a chronic condition – an illness for which there is currently no cure.
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They are managed with drugs or other treatments.
Researchers from the Intermountain Medical Center Heart Institute, in Salt Lake City, developed their test among one group of patients before confirming them in a second group.
Overall, 7 per cent of 98,711 women and 9 per cent of 45,543 men developed a chronic illness three years after being tested.
Diabetes and coronary artery disease were the most common.
Study leader Dr Heidi May said: “Our goal was to create a clinical tool that's useful, easily obtainable and doesn’t slow the work-flow of our clinicians.
“We hope ICHRON can be used to help identify patients who are at a higher risk for a chronic disease and therefore need more personalised care.
“For example, if a patient received a high ICHRON score, the clinician could plan to see the patient more frequently or be more aggressive with treatments.
“Or if the patient had a low ICHRON score, they could potentially be seen less often or their care providers could forego a test they were considering.
“It’s a lot less expensive to help patients improve their lifestyles than it is to treat a heart attack – and that’s in addition to all of the physical and emotional benefits that result from healthier lifestyles.”
The findings will be presented at the American College of Cardiology's 66th Annual Scientific Session in Washington, D.C.
PRICK IDs RELAPSE
BLOOD tests pinpointed a recurrence of cancer in patients months before scans, a US study claims.
Of 48 treated for non-small cell lung disease, 15 had tumours return.
Blood tests in two-thirds of those with relapses identified a rise in circulating tumour cells, cancer’s first sign, six months before normal methods.
The University of Pennsylvania docs said: “Earlier detection of recurrence may lead to an increased chance of curing patients.”
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