New York: US researchers have launched a clinical trial program to detect future heart diseases in men and women based on the structure of their DNA.
If these clinical trials prove to be effective, this genetic screening test will be adopted as a global benchmark to help prevent heart attacks, the most common cause of death.
If results improve, heart diseases will be the last diseases of the century, said Robert Roberts, medical director of the Cardiovascular Genomics for Dignity Health Hospital in Arizona.
In this clinical trial, researchers will collect DNA samples from nearly 2,000 men and women aged 40 to 60 who had no prior heart disease. The DNA samples will then be analyzed to determine if these people have any genetic markers known to cause heart diseases.
Once the DNA genotyping is complete, Dignity’s team will evaluate each participant’s genetic markers to determine how likely they are to develop heart disease.
Other health parameters and lifestyle factors will also be considered when determining the risk of heart disease for participants in this clinical trial. These include high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol. It will also find out whether participants smoke and exercise or lead an inactive lifestyle.
He said that I hope that through the genetic test results of this study, we will be able to save lives in the future by early prevention of coronary artery disease by regular screening. This can prove to be a transformative step in the prevention of heart diseases.
Earlier research has found a link between heart diseases and DNA that suggests their genetic predisposition. Research has shown that high cholesterol levels from birth can be caused by a common genetic condition called familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). This can lead to a higher risk of coronary heart disease from an early age. Some estimates suggest that one out of every two patients with FH may face an increased risk of coronary heart disease by age 70.
A paper published in the European Heart Journal, citing research from Australia’s Monash University, said DNA testing through the government health system could identify thousands more people for FH in early adulthood.
first published:Feb. 21, 2022, 7:15 pm
,