Five-minute test could predict risk of a heart attack, say experts

Every year approximately 100,000 individuals in the UK are hospitalised due to heart attacks, equating to about 290 admissions daily. While factors such as diet, genetics, and underlying health conditions contribute to your risk of a heart attack researchers have devised a new method to predict the likelihood of experiencing one – and it only takes five minutes.

This straightforward test comprises 14 questions that consider various aspects including age, gender, weight, waist circumference, smoking habits, high blood pressure, elevated blood fats, diabetes, and family history of cardiovascular disease. The responses to these questions are then analysed using a unique algorithm which can identify 65% of individuals at the highest risk of developing cardiovascular disease, reports Gloucester Live.

The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, initially administered a coronary artery examination to 25,000 people via computed tomography. This process visualises the extent of a condition known as atherosclerosis, which is the accumulation of fats and cholesterol on the artery walls.

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Scientists then compared these results with the answers to the questionnaire to have a better idea of overall heart health with researchers then able to pinpoint which key factors most strongly associated with the build up of fat and cholesterol, which can lead to heart attacks. Reflecting on what this means for health going forwards Göran Bergström, study lead and professor of clinical physiology at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, said in a statement: "A heart attack often comes out of the blue.

"Many of those who suffer heart attacks are apparently healthy and asymptomatic but have fatty deposits in the coronary arteries known as atherosclerosis. Our test makes it possible to identify almost two-thirds of people aged 50–64 who have significant coronary atherosclerosis and are therefore at high risk of cardiovascular disease,” reports NewsWeek.

Crucially findings so far indicate that the home test could be as accurate as a clinic examination using blood tests and blood pressure measurements which Prof Bergström added “can save lives and prevent suffering by helping us to identify those who are at high risk of heart attack or who are currently undertreated” if it is widely rolled out.

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