An inexpensive blood test could indicate which healthy patients are at higher risk of having a heart attack. Experts suggest this test could be more effective than measuring blood pressure and cholesterol levels for evaluating heart attack risk. Currently, this test has only been tested on men. However, research supported by the British Heart Foundation indicates it would work well for women too. This test is called troponin, which detects a protein released when heart muscle is injured.
Doctors continue to use this blood test to find out whether a man or woman has had a heart attack. Still, researchers from the universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow believe it could be used to help patients avoid such situations. In their research, Professor Nicholas Mills and his team found that men with elevated troponin levels in their blood were at a higher risk of having a heart attack or dying from heart disease 15 years later.
Preventive treatment for some high-risk men, such as administering cholesterol-lowering statins, reduced their risk and troponin levels. The study included 3,300 men who had high cholesterol levels but had never experienced a heart attack. The researchers also plan to conduct further studies on women.
Professor David Newby, a co-author of the study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, said: “Troponin serves as an indicator of heart health. An increase is concerning and indicates a higher risk of heart issues, while a decrease is positive.” He added: “It also sheds light on who benefits from statins and opens up new research opportunities.”
He noted that the test could be valuable when combined with blood pressure measurements and smoking history to assess a person’s cardiovascular risk.
“Troponin testing could help doctors identify hidden heart disease in seemingly healthy individuals, allowing us to initiate preventive treatment for those who would benefit most,” Professor Mills said.
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