A test that can predict a heart attack in a seemingly healthy person, will soon be available in India.

The predictive High Sensitive Troponin-I blood test from Abbott recently received the regulatory CE certification in Europe for being able to accurately predict the chances of having a heart attack or a cardiac event potentially months to years in advance in people who otherwise appear healthy.

Cardio-vascular diseases are the number one killer in men and women across the world,and the predictive test has special significance in India given the high death rates from the disease, Dr Gilliam Murtagh, Abbott's Associate Medical Director, told BusinessLine . The test has the potential to transform how doctors identify those developing a heart disease because of its heart-specific biomarker, the company said.

Shift from treating to preventive

The blood test effectively picks up high and low levels of the protein Troponin I released when the heart muscles are stressed. In the past similar products were used in emergency situations or ICUs when a patient showed symptoms of a heart attack. This time around the product has received approvals for a new indication where it picks up heart attack signals in a seemingly healthy person, she explained, a shift from treating to being more preventive. The test readings are to be considered along with the other standard testing indications and interpreted by a doctor, she added.

The idea is to make this part of routine blood tests prescribed by a doctor so a heart attack is picked up early and the individual could change their lifestyle and avert a cardiac eventuality if possible.

The product will be rolled out in India in the next few months, a company spokesperson said. “Abbott is working with physicians, hospitals and laboratories throughout the country to determine how this new test indication could fit within their existing practices for prevention or annual health exams. We expect that the pricing of the test will be comparable to other general wellness exam diagnostic tests,” the company said, without giving details on pricing.

Troponin I levels

The product has yet to receive regulatory approvals in the US, but the company was working with the regulators, Dr Murtagh said. Nevertheless, the roll out in some markets comes even as this Saturday marks World Heart Day. An estimated 17.7 million people globally die annually from cardiovascular diseases, according to the World Health Organization.

In its note, Abbott cites findings by Nick Mills, a cardiologist and researcher at the British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science at the University of Edinburgh, an author of a study that evaluated the impact of troponin tests. The West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study (WOSCOPS) found that troponin-I levels were an indicator of an increased risk of coronary heart disease independent of cholesterol levels lowering, and identified the patients who benefited most from preventive treatments with a statin. “Our ultimate goal as healthcare providers is to prevent the onset of disease, not just treat or manage its consequences,” the note quoted Dr Mills as saying.

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