New Progress in Cardiology Research

In a new Interheart study spanning 50 countries, doctors recommend that the most effective way to assess and improve a patient’s cardiovascular risk level is to use multi-marker screening panels, instead of a single, conventional lipid-only testing (compromised of total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides). The study was conducted by the Cleveland Clinic Heart Lab and published in the peer-reviewed journal Future Cardiology. At least 50 percent of patients that present with acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) had normal or treated cholesterol levels. 

                An example of an advanced biomarker affecting cardiovascular health is inflammation, which is a strong predictor of plaque rupture. High cholesterol in the blood is not what drives the risk for heart disease or heart attack. Elevated cholesterol values are effectively treated by diet and lifestyle modifications. The study determined that 90 percent of heart disease is preventable.

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