A new study suggests that a simple cholesterol test could be the key to identifying people at risk of heart attack or stroke.
More than half of adults in Britain have high cholesterol – a condition where fatty substances build up in the blood and can block arteries. This is often linked to poor diet, lack of physical activity, smoking and obesity, and is a significant risk factor for heart disease.
Typically, cholesterol is assessed by measuring levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), known as “bad cholesterol.” However, this method does not directly measure the number of harmful particles that can damage arteries – called apolipoprotein B (apoB).
Researchers from Northwestern Medicine in the US found that measuring apoB could save more lives than standard methods that focus only on cholesterol levels. The test measures the actual number of harmful particles in the blood and could enable doctors to recommend treatment or lifestyle changes many years before the disease occurs.
To assess the effectiveness of this test, the researchers analyzed a simulation model of 250,000 American adults who needed statins (cholesterol-lowering drugs) but did not yet have cardiovascular disease. They compared treatment outcomes based on three measures: LDL, non-HDL cholesterol, and apoB.
The results showed that targeting apoB could prevent about 1,000 more cases of heart attacks and strokes for every 250,000 people, compared with current approaches.
This approach could also be more economical for health systems, as it helps avoid costly emergency treatments and rehabilitation for patients with cardiac problems.
The study, published in the scientific journal JAMA, suggests that wider use of the apoB test could improve treatment decision-making.
The study's lead author, Ciaran Kohli-Lynch, emphasized that using this test to intensify treatment reduces the incidence of heart attacks and strokes more than current practices.
Experts have previously called for the test - which costs around £36 in many private clinics - to be used more widely. However, some specialists suggest it is not necessary to completely replace existing methods.
Dr. Richard Webb of Liverpool Hope University proposes that the apoB test be used alongside current tests. He says some patients may have normal LDL results but still be at risk due to poor diet or a predisposition to chronic disease.
Although the number of cases missed by current tests is relatively small, it could translate into thousands of people not being warned in time about the risk of a serious cardiac problem. /GazetaExpress/
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