A £5 blood test may hold the key to preventing thousands of heart attacks, according to a new study that suggests troponin tests could revolutionise cardiovascular risk prediction.
£5 Blood Test Could Help Prevent Thousands of Heart Attacks, Study Says
The Power of Troponin Tests in Predicting Cardiovascular Events
Researchers suggest that ‘silent’ harm to the heart can be detected with troponin tests, which can be done alongside routine cholesterol tests at GP surgeries, could help predict a patient’s future risk of cardiovascular events. These tests are already used in hospitals to diagnose heart attacks after they have occurred.
A troponin test is a blood test used to detect cardiac muscle damage, typically after a heart attack.
It measures the levels of troponin T or troponin I in the blood.
Elevated troponin levels indicate that the heart has been damaged, allowing for prompt medical attention and treatment.
The test is highly specific and sensitive, with 99% accuracy in diagnosing heart attacks.
Normal results are below 0.01 ng/mL, while elevated levels can range from 0.1 to 10 ng/mL.
Boosting Accuracy with Troponin Results
The study found that people with higher levels of troponin in their blood were at greater risk of having a heart attack or stroke within 10 years. Modelling suggests that, for people currently found to be at intermediate risk on existing cardiovascular health assessments, the tests would prevent one heart attack or stroke for roughly every 500 people tested.
Troponin is a protein found in heart muscle cells.
Elevated troponin levels indicate damage to the heart, often due to a heart attack or cardiac surgery.
Normal troponin levels range from 0-14 ng/L for men and 0-10 ng/L for women.
Levels above 5 ng/L are considered abnormal.
Troponin T (TnT) and troponin I (TnI) are the two main types, with TnI being more sensitive to cardiac damage.
Improving Cardiovascular Health Assessments
By adding troponin results to existing risk factors, the algorithm’s predictions were up to four times more accurate than adding cholesterol results alone. This improvement in accuracy could help spot high-risk patients who would benefit from preventive treatment, such as statins, and reduce their risk of future circulatory issues.
Troponin is a protein found in heart muscle cells.
Elevated troponin levels indicate damage to the heart, often due to a 'heart attack' or myocardial infarction.
A normal troponin level is below 0.01 ng/mL, while levels above 0.03 ng/mL suggest cardiac injury.
The American College of Cardiology recommends using high-sensitivity troponin assays for diagnosis and risk stratification in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome.
The Potential for Preventive Treatment
The study’s lead author notes that troponin, even in the normal range, is a powerful indicator of ‘silent’ heart muscle damage. Adding troponin tests into existing heart-risk estimation guidelines could help identify more people who are at higher risk and deliver advice and treatment to reduce their risk of future heart attack and strokes.
A New Era in Cardiovascular Risk Prediction
Researchers analysed the health data of over 62,000 people across Europe and the US. The study’s findings suggest that troponin tests have the potential to revolutionise cardiovascular risk prediction, enabling doctors to identify more people who are at higher risk and deliver targeted preventive treatment.
Reducing the Burden on the NHS
The British Heart Foundation estimates that around 100,000 hospital admissions for heart attacks alone occur in the UK each year. The study’s findings suggest that adding troponin tests to current risk-prediction models could help reduce this burden by identifying more people who are at higher risk and delivering preventive treatment.
A Step Towards Better Cardiovascular Health
The study’s lead author notes that the inexpensive ‘£5’ blood test could be used to detect ‘silent’ harm to the heart, helping to predict a patient’s future risk of cardiovascular events. By adding troponin results to existing risk factors, doctors may be able to identify more people who are at higher risk and deliver targeted preventive treatment, leading to better cardiovascular health outcomes.
