A NEW home test could reveal your risk of a potentially fatal heart attack in just five minutes.
Swedish scientists have created a questionnaire that quickly identifies high-risk people with the same accuracy as a general clinical exam.
Research shows it has the same level of accuracy as blood tests and blood pressure measurements.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Associationuses data from the SCAPIS population group, based at the University of Gothenburg.
Study leader Professor Göran Bergström said: “A heart attack often comes out of nowhere.
“Many of those who suffer heart attacks are apparently healthy and asymptomatic, but they have fatty deposits in their coronary arteries, known as atherosclerosis.
“Our test allows us to identify almost two-thirds of people aged 50 to 64 who have significant coronary atherosclerosis and are therefore at high risk of cardiovascular disease.”
Around 39,000 people will die from illnesses such as heart attacks before the age of 75 in England in 2022, according to the British Heart Foundation.
They caused an average of more than 750 deaths per week – the highest total since 2008.
The charity said delays in diagnosis are one of the reasons behind the rise.
The DIY test consists of 14 questions that take five to eight minutes to answer.
The questions are related to factors such as age, sex, weight, waist circumference, smoking, high blood pressure, family history of cardiovascular disease, high blood fat levels and diabetes.
By combining information from responses in a special algorithm, the home test can detect 65% of people at highest risk of cardiovascular disease, according to the study.
Professor Bergström said: “The results show that our home test is as accurate as a clinical examination using blood tests and blood pressure measurements.”
He added: “If we can make the test widely available in healthcare, it could save lives and prevent suffering by helping us identify those who are at high risk of a heart attack or who are currently undertreated.”
The study was based on data from 25 thousand people aged 50 to 64 included in SCAPIS.
‘COULD SAVE MANY LIVES’
All participants had their coronary arteries examined using a CT scan, which provides a picture of the degree of atherosclerosis.
By comparing images of the heart with questionnaires completed by participants, the research team was able to see which factors had the closest links to the degree of atherosclerosis.
Researchers have also launched studies in Sweden and based on data from the United States, to evaluate how the test works in different groups.
Identifying people at risk before the disease occurs is one of the main objectives of the Swedish Heart Lung Foundation’s focus on SCAPIS.
Foundation secretary general Kristina Sparreljung said: “A test that could provide early warnings would save many lives and much suffering.
“The results of Professor Bergström’s study are therefore extremely interesting.”
This month, the NHS began rolling out DIY kits that could reveal whether you’re at risk of a deadly heart problem.
The tests, which eligible people can order from their GP, estimate the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke in the next ten years.
It also provides patients with a cholesterol reading, estimates heart age, and calculates body mass index (BMI) scores.
People aged 40 to 74 who are not currently taking statins or blood pressure medication can request tests from their doctor for free.
PocDoc, the kit manufacturer, said taking the test and sending the results to the NHS can be done in nine minutes.
The type of questions included in the questionnaire
The home test consists of 14 questions that take five to eight minutes to answer.
All questions were related to factors that can influence the risk of heart disease, such as age, weight, smoking, hypertension and diabetes.
For example:
- Do you have a family history of cardiovascular disease?
- What is your waist circumference?
- What is your blood pressure reading?
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
