A blood test has been found which can predict a patient’s risk of a fatal heart attack in the next three years.
Scientists checked former heart attack sufferers for the c-reactive protein, a tell-tale sign of inflammation. They also did standard tests for troponin, a protein released into the blood when the heart is damaged.
Of 250,000 NHS patients, those with raised CRP levels and a positive troponin test had a 35% chance of death within three years.
The discovery could save thousands of lives by monitoring those at risk more closely and prescribing anti-inflammatories.
Dr Ramzi Khamis, author of the Imperial College London study, said: “Testing for this biological red flag at the same time as other tests identifies those more vulnerable.”
Prof James Leiper, of the British Heart Foundation which funded the study, added: “It is a valuable new tool in doctors’ arsenal.”
- Four hours of active chores a day cuts the risk of heart disease by 43% compared to doing less than two hours, a study found.
