Innovative Study Aims to Prevent Heart Attacks Through Early Identification
Every year, approximately 8,000 individuals under the age of 70 experience their first heart attack, with over 1,000 of these cases resulting in death. Göran Bergström, chief physician at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, is determined to reduce this alarming statistic by 2030.
Bergström is not just a chief physician; he holds a professorship at the University of Gothenburg and is the scientific lead for SCAPIS, the world’s largest study on heart, blood vessels, and lungs. This ambitious initiative involves six universities and university hospitals collaborating to assess 30,000 residents with the primary aim of predicting and ultimately preventing heart and lung diseases.
"My focus is to identify completely healthy individuals who harbor a significant risk of heart attacks without displaying any symptoms," Bergström explains. "Finding tools to identify these individuals is crucial, and SCAPIS offers significant potential in this regard."
The study has so far evaluated 30,000 participants, scrutinizing their heart and blood vessels for indicators of heart attack risk. Alarmingly, over 40% of those examined showed changes in their heart or blood vessels that could signal an impending heart attack. While most of these changes were minor, about one in twenty participants displayed more serious alterations without any self-awareness of their condition.
"Discovering these individuals might be costly at this stage, but we are actively researching technology that could help us identify at-risk individuals through simpler means, such as a blood test," Bergström notes.
Implementing proper preventive measures once high-risk individuals are identified could save lives through lifestyle changes or advanced medication interventions. "We already have many tools available for those living with potential risk factors. However, the critical first step is identifying these individuals," Bergström asserts.
He envisions a potentially groundbreaking outcome from SCAPIS: simple techniques for identifying individuals at high risk. "Imagine if we could measure a specific marker in the blood that would act as an inexpensive test. If SCAPIS results in a smart and cost-effective screening method, my goal is to eliminate 20-30% of those at risk," he predicts.
However, conducting a comprehensive study like SCAPIS comes with hefty costs. The Heart and Lung Foundation serves as the primary sponsor, and Bergström emphasizes that every contribution counts for the project to continue advancing. "We can measure a myriad of factors in individuals' blood, but currently, we lack the funds to measure everything we aim to assess. I am optimistic that soon we will find solutions, and that funding will allow us to make necessary progress," Bergström concludes.
The SCAPIS study holds great promise for the future of heart health, aiming to cut down on heart attacks and save lives through early identification and intervention.
Related Sources: