A simple blood test to predict heart disease 30 years in advance?

Could a simple blood test prevent the risk of heart disease decades in advance?

A promising new study suggests that a blood test could predict cardiovascular risks in women thirty years earlier than current methods.


What if this test became an essential tool for prevention? The test is based on three biomarkers: two types of fats and an inflammation indicator, capable of providing a detailed profile of heart health.

Cardiovascular diseases (strokes, myocardial infarctions, heart failures, etc.) are the leading cause of death among women in France, even surpassing cancers. Sedentary lifestyle, stress, alcohol, tobacco, and obesity increase these risks. Traditional screening methods often focus solely on LDL cholesterol, thereby neglecting other key markers.

Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston studied nearly 28,000 women over 30 years. The results demonstrate that three biomarkers offer a more precise prediction of heart disease risks over thirty years. Besides LDL cholesterol, they identified lipoprotein (a) and C-reactive protein (CRP) as crucial factors.

Women with the highest levels of these three biomarkers had a 1.5 times greater risk of stroke and a three times higher risk of coronary heart disease. This underscores the importance of not limiting to just one indicator but combining these three factors for a more accurate assessment.

The combination of these markers shows how inflammation and blood fats interact to increase risk. For instance, a high CRP indicates latent inflammation, which can worsen the effects of LDL cholesterol on the arteries.

Researchers suggest integrating these tests into routine medical care for early detection and more targeted prevention. By adapting treatments and recommendations, it might be possible to reduce risks well before symptoms appear.

These findings, although focused on women, could also apply to men, offering vast potential to improve global heart health.