Routine Blood Test: NBC has published an article regarding the connection between blood type and the risk of heart disease!
Routine Blood Test, A novel adaptation of a standard blood test might soon enable doctors to predict an individual’s likelihood of developing heart disease over the next three decades, according to research published this Saturday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Routine Blood Test, Traditionally, clinicians have assessed cardiovascular risk by measuring cholesterol levels—specifically focusing on low-density lipoprotein (LDL), often dubbed “bad” cholesterol. However, experts argue that relying solely on cholesterol can overlook other critical, often silent, indicators of risk.
“We have additional biomarkers that reveal various underlying biological issues in patients who are likely to develop cardiovascular disease,” explained Dr. Paul Ridker, lead author of the study and director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Dr. Ridker and his team discovered that, in addition to LDL cholesterol, two other markers—lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], a type of blood fat, and C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammation indicator—serve as significant predictors of heart attacks, strokes, and coronary heart disease. These findings were also highlighted at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2024 in London.
Routine Blood Test, The study analyzed data from nearly 30,000 U.S. women enrolled in the Women’s Health Study between 1992 and 1995, with an average age of 55 at the time of enrollment. Over a 30-year follow-up period, approximately 13% of the participants—around 3,600 women—experienced a heart attack, stroke, arterial surgery, or death from heart disease.
Although the research focused exclusively on women, Dr. Ridker noted that the results likely apply to men as well. He emphasized that the deliberate focus on women was intended to address the fact that cardiovascular disease, though largely preventable, is often underdiagnosed and undertreated in female patients.
Routine Blood Test, At the study’s outset, each participant underwent blood tests to determine levels of LDL cholesterol, Lp(a), and CRP. The data revealed that these markers, both individually and collectively, could effectively predict long-term heart health. Women in the highest LDL cholesterol group faced a 36% greater risk of heart disease compared to those in the lowest group; similarly, high Lp(a) levels correlated with a 33% increased risk, and elevated CRP levels were associated with a 70% higher risk. When combined, women with elevated levels in all three markers were 1.5 times more likely to suffer a stroke and over three times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those with low levels.
Routine Blood Test, “These biomarkers each reflect distinct biological processes, giving us insight into why a person is at risk,” said Dr. Ridker.
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The Case For Early Intervention
Routine Blood Test, While conventional risk factors—such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol—are well known, the inclusion of Lp(a) and CRP testing can uncover less obvious risks. “Even in the absence of traditional risk factors, having a high Lp(a) level alone can elevate your risk,” commented Dr. Rachel Bond, system director of women’s heart health at Dignity Health in Arizona, who was not involved in the study. She recommends that everyone get their Lp(a) levels checked at least once, with post-menopausal women possibly requiring re-testing due to potential changes in levels.
Unlike Lp (a), which tends to remain consistent over time, LDL cholesterol and CRP levels can fluctuate. Dr. Ridker advocates for using this comprehensive three-marker blood test in individuals in their 30s or 40s—allowing for early detection of hidden risk factors when intervention may be most effective.
Though lifestyle modifications such as exercising, healthy eating, and avoiding smoking are crucial, individuals with persistently high levels of Lp(a), LDL, and CRP may also need medication, warned Dr. Steven Nissen, chief academic officer of the Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. “For most people, lifestyle changes alone won’t suffice,” he noted.
Routine Blood Test, The study does have its limitations. Notably, nearly 94% of the study participants were white, highlighting a need for greater racial and ethnic diversity in future research, as these factors can significantly influence heart disease risk. Additionally, Dr. Nissen pointed out that the study stopped measuring Lp(a) once it reached a certain level, potentially underestimating its full impact. “The highest Lp(a) values observed weren’t even high enough to trigger clinical treatment,” he explained.
Dr. Kunihiro Matsushita, an epidemiology professor at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health specializing in cardiology, added that while inflammation is undeniably important, CRP might not be the optimal marker for predicting cardiovascular risk on its own. “The three-marker approach is intriguing, but further research is needed to refine which biomarkers best predict risk,” he said. Dr. Matsushita also stressed that these tests are especially valuable for individuals traditionally considered at low risk, including women, younger people, and those of East Asian descent.
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