An inexpensive blood test could save lives of thousands of heart attack patients, a study suggests.
The British Heart Foundation, which funded the work, said the rapid test could help doctors to spot people at high risk of death after a suspected attack.
Researchers involved in the comprehensive study found that measuring levels of high-sensitivity, C-reactive protein (CRP), a known sign of inflammation, in the blood of people after a heart attack can help to pinpoint whether they are at risk of dying in the next three years.
The blood test, which is already used in hospitals to diagnose other conditions, may help to inform choices, with those at the highest risk closely monitored and given more intensive treatment, the foundation said.
Currently, when doctors think a person has had a heart attack they perform a blood test for troponin, a protein that is released into the bloodstream when the heart is damaged.
Now, scientists have found that measuring CRP levels at the same time provides a detailed picture.
For the study, published in the journal Plos Medicine, researchers used data from more than 250,000 patients who were admitted to hospital with a suspected heart attack.
Normally, the level of CRP in the blood is 2 mg/L or under.
But the research found that a raised measurement of between 10 and 15 mg/L CRP in those with a positive troponin test predicted a 35 per cent increased risk of death three years later.
The work was carried out by experts from Imperial College London in collaboration with the National Institute for Health Research's Health Informatics Collaborative.
“Testing for this biological ‘red flag’ at the same time as other hospital tests identifies those more vulnerable patients who should be receiving closer medical attention," said Dr Ramzi Khamis, of Imperial College London.
“Importantly, we hope with more research we can be successful in developing new therapies that specifically combat inflammation to improve outcomes in heart disease.”
One of the therapies that could be tested as a potential treatment is the anti-inflammatory drug colchicine, which is known to be effective against atherosclerosis, or the the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries.
“Every five minutes, someone is admitted to a UK hospital with a heart attack, and it is estimated that there are 1.4 million people in the UK who have survived a heart attack," said Prof James Leiper, associate medical director at the foundation.
“This test presents a valuable new tool in doctors’ arsenal to direct quick and effective care for the millions of heart attack patients.
“By better identifying which people are most at risk, this simple blood test could help to direct anti-inflammatory treatments to those who most need it.”
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Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier
ICC Academy, November 22-28
UAE fixtures
Nov 22, v Malaysia
Nov 23, v Hong Kong
Nov 25, v Bhutan
Nov 26, v Kuwait
Nov 28, v Nepal
ICC T20I rankings
14. Nepal
17. UAE
25. Hong Kong
34. Kuwait
35. Malaysia
44. Bhutan
UAE squad
Chaya Mughal (captain), Natasha Cherriath, Samaira Dharnidharka, Kavisha Egodage, Mahika Gaur, Priyanjali Jain, Suraksha Kotte, Vaishnave Mahesh, Judit Peter, Esha Rohit, Theertha Satish, Chamani Seneviratne, Khushi Sharma, Subha Venkataraman
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH
Directed by: Shaka King
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Lakeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Four stars
The specs
Engine 60kwh FWD
Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power 204hp Torque 360Nm
Price, base / as tested Dh174,500
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
The specs
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm
Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto
Price: From Dh139,995
On sale: now
THE SPECS
Touareg Highline
Engine: 3.0-litre, V6
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Power: 340hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh239,312
GROUP RESULTS
Group A
Results
Ireland beat UAE by 226 runs
West Indies beat Netherlands by 54 runs
Group B
Results
Zimbabwe tied with Scotland
Nepal beat Hong Kong by five wickets
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Stars:Kristen Bell
Rating: 1/5
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Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
