Revolutionary Genetic Test for Cardiovascular Disease
A groundbreaking genetic test has been developed to assess the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), potentially preventing 20,000 cases over the next decade when used alongside current GP risk assessments. CVD affects seven million people in the UK and is responsible for one in four deaths.
Currently, GPs assess CVD risk in 40 to 55-year-olds and sometimes prescribe statins as a preventive measure. However, this risk assessment is not always precise. Professor Ahmet Fuat, who led the trial of the new ‘Health Insight Test,’ found that it significantly changed the CVD risk assessment in 13% of cases. For some patients, the risk was downgraded, while for others (around 8%), it was upgraded to high or very high, enabling them to make informed decisions about their treatment.
The test, approved by the MHRA, is currently available only through private insurance providers, not through the NHS. Genomics, the Oxford-based company behind the test, is eager for the NHS to adopt this innovation. Professor Sir Peter Donnelly, CEO of Genomics, stated that the test aligns with the government’s focus on prevention and personalized healthcare.
The upcoming 10-year health plan is expected to include personalized medicine using technologies like genomics. However, Tim Horton from the Health Foundation emphasized that the real challenge lies in implementing new technologies effectively across the NHS.
“It’s not just having the technology that gets you the benefits but implementing it and using it effectively in the real world,” Mr. Horton said. The NHS faces the task of ensuring that innovative technologies like the Health Insight Test are integrated into frontline care.
