**Blood Test Predicts Heart Attacks and Strokes Up to 30 Years in Advance**
Scientists have revealed that a simple “three-dimensional” blood test can accurately predict a patient’s risk of having a heart attack or stroke up to 30 years before it occurs. Currently, doctors typically rely on cholesterol tests (known as LDL) to assess a person’s risk of heart-related issues.
However, the new study, which was conducted over three decades, examined blood for two additional biomarkers: “CRP,” a protein produced by the liver that increases in response to inflammation, and “Lipoprotein A,” a type of fat in the body. The study, published on Saturday in the *New England Journal of Medicine*, concluded that the blood test analyzing these three biomarkers provides a more detailed and accurate picture of a patient’s heart health, potentially revolutionizing preventive care.
Dr. Paul Ridker, the lead author of the study, told *NBC News*: “These three biomarkers represent different biological processes. They tell us why someone is at actual risk.” Ridker now urges other doctors to use the “three-dimensional blood test” when patients are in their thirties or forties to detect early risk factors that might otherwise be overlooked.
The study analyzed blood samples from nearly 30,000 American women over 30 years, examining the three separate biomarkers. When the study began in the mid-1990s, the average age of participants was 55. Over the subsequent three decades, 13% of the volunteers experienced cardiovascular problems, such as heart attacks or strokes.
Women with the highest levels of Lipoprotein (A) at the start of the study had a 33% increased risk of developing cardiovascular issues. Those with the highest levels of CRP were at a staggering 70% increased risk. When combined with cholesterol levels, women with high levels in all three categories were three times more likely to suffer from heart disease.
However, doctors say that early detection through blood tests could allow for preventive measures that could significantly reduce the number of patients experiencing chronic heart health problems.
By/radwa sherif ✏️✏️📚