Innovative Study Aims to Prevent Heart Attacks in High-Risk Individuals
Each year, around 8,000 individuals under the age of 70 suffer their first heart attack, resulting in over 1,000 fatalities. This alarming statistic has prompted urgent action from medical professionals like Dr. Göran Bergström, chief physician at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden, who is spearheading a groundbreaking study to reduce the impact of heart disease.
Dr. Bergström is not only a leading physician but also the scientific head of SCAPIS (Swedish Cardiac and Pulmonary vascular diseases in individuals aged 50-64). This initiative stands as the largest of its kind worldwide, encompassing the collaboration of six universities and university hospitals to evaluate the heart, blood vessels, and lungs of 30,000 individuals. SCAPIS aims to predict and ultimately prevent heart and lung diseases by identifying at-risk individuals who may not display any obvious symptoms.
"My focus is to try to identify completely healthy individuals who walk around without symptoms but have a significant risk of having a heart attack without them knowing it," stated Dr. Bergström. He emphasized the importance of finding tools for the identification of these hidden at-risk individuals.
Recent findings from SCAPIS reveal that more than 40% of the participants exhibited changes in their heart's blood vessels indicative of a potential heart attack risk. While many of these changes were minor, significant alterations were noted in one out of every twenty participants, all of whom were previously oblivious to their condition. While the extensive screening process is costly, researchers are brainstorming innovative technologies, including a straightforward blood test that could help identify high-risk individuals.
Dr. Bergström believes that if at-risk individuals can be identified early on, preventive measures can be taken to avert heart attacks altogether. "Much of it is about making lifestyle changes, but there are also fantastic medications. We have many tools for people living with risk, but first we need to find those individuals," he added.
A potential revolutionary outcome from SCAPIS is the development of a simple and cost-effective screening method that utilizes blood measurements to identify those at high risk. Dr. Bergström aims to create a test that could help eliminate 20-30% of those at risk by 2030.
Funding remains a critical concern for large-scale studies like SCAPIS. The Heart-Lung Foundation is the primary financier of the initiative, and Dr. Bergström notes, "We can measure a lot of things in the blood of these individuals, but we still cannot afford to measure everything we want to measure. I think soon we will have ideas for a solution, and it is funding that enables us to take that step."
As the demand for heart disease prevention grows, every contribution counts. Initiatives like SCAPIS not only shine a light on the importance of understanding heart health but also underscore the need for public support in research efforts aimed at saving lives.
Related Sources: