Using a new, highly sensitive blood test in A&E departments could help better diagnose and treat heart attacks, reducing the risk of further aThe team found more than 10,000 patients had high troponin levels, which indicates a heart injury, using the new test.
In our trial, introducing this test led to an impressive reduction in the number of future heart attacks and deaths seen in this at-risk group
Lead author Dr Ken Lee, clinical lecturer in cardiology at the University of Edinburgh, said: “In the past, clinicians could have been falsely reassured by the results of the less sensitive troponin test, discharging patients that appeared to not have heart disease.
“This new high sensitivity test is the tool they needed, prompting them to look deeper and helping them to identify and treat both heart attacks and less obvious heart problems.
“In our trial, introducing this test led to an impressive reduction in the number of future heart attacks and deaths seen in this at-risk group.”
“It is very encouraging to see that the new test trialled here is better at predicting long-term outcomes for these patients, whether they had a heart attack or a different kind of heart injury
Professor Sir Nilesh Samani, medical director at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), which funded the research, said: “Medical professionals in emergency departments need the most efficient and accurate tools to look after people.
“This particularly applies to those who arrive with a suspected heart attack.
“Such a time-sensitive and life-threatening condition requires the very best diagnostic tests.
“It is very encouraging to see that the new test trialled here is better at predicting long-term outcomes for these patients, whether they had a heart attack or a different kind of heart injury. This can lead to improved care for such patients.”