$15 Blood Test Predicts Heart Attack Risk
A simple, widely available blood test could help predict which patients with chest pain are at risk for a heart attack, according to another new study published inJournal of the American College of Cardiology. Because chest pain is a relatively common symptom, the ability to rule out heart attack risk in the ER with a simple, low-cost blood test is an important breakthrough, says Doneen.
The test checks for levels of a biomarker called high-sensitivity cardiac trophin T (hs-cTnT), a substance released when heart muscle dies. Higher-than-normal levels of hs-cTnT are a sign of heart damage and elevated risk for a heart attack. Swedish researchers report that if levels of this biomarker and an ECG are both normal, there is a 99 percent probability that the patient will not suffer a heart attack during the next month—and a 100 percent probability that the person will not die from cardiovascular causes during that time span.
The test used in the study is widely available in the U.S. through medical providers and hospitals—and it comes with a small price tag. The blood test costs about $15 and is covered by most insurance plans, according to Stan Morse, regional sales director of Singulex, Inc., makers of test in the US.
The Swedish study included nearly 15,000 patients who had sought medical help at a Stockholm Hospital for chest pain over a two-year period.
Predicting Long-Term Risk of Cardiovascular-Related Death
The Swedish study adds to earlier research reporting that this test can also predict long-term risk for heart-related death. In a 2012 study published in Journal of Clinical Chemistry, initially healthy patients were tracked for eight to 15 years. Those with rising levels of hs-cTnT during the study period were more than eight times more likely to die from cardiovascular (CV) causes than those with stable levels.
The study analyzed blood test results from 211 people who died from CV causes and those from 253 matched control patients. The study took such factors as age, sex, smoking, abdominal obesity, cholesterol, diabetes, and other biomarkers into account.
Doneen cautions that this test is just one of many biomarkers—including blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, and inflammation—that should be tracked in patients with cardiovascular risk.
Source:
http://health.yahoo.net/experts/dayinhealth/simple-heart-attack-tests-could-save-lives
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