Lifesaver New blood test a breakthrough in rapid heart attack diagnosis

Physicians develop new test to detect heart attacks
A newly developed blood test could lead to a breakthrough in the treatment of heart attacks. This new diagnostic method achieves its results in just 12 to 18 minutes. The short diagnosis time could lead to a faster and more effective treatment of heart attacks.

The scientists at King's College London developed a blood test that leads to a faster diagnosis of heart attacks. The doctors published a press release on the results of their research.

Many people with chest pain immediately think of a heart attack and go to a hospital. However, a traditional cardiac arrest test may take several hours. However, a newly developed test is now capable of diagnosing in just 12 to 18 minutes. (Image: SENTELLO / fotolia.com)

Many people come to the hospital with chest pain
Every year in the UK alone, more than one million people go to a hospital to have their chest pain examined. However, only about 188,000 patients a year have a heart attack in the UK. The newly developed test could cause most of these people to be sent home after a short time, the researchers say. Also, actual heart attacks are treatable faster, while people without a heart attack can calmly go home home.

How long did the old test take to diagnose?
So far, doctors had to wait at least three hours after the onset of symptoms before they could safely diagnose a heart attack. And often, the tests must be repeated after at least six hours before a heart attack can be ruled out and a patient discharged, the authors explain.

What are the advantages of the newly developed test?
The new test is faster, more sensitive and better at detecting damage. The test looks for a particular protein (cardiac myosin-binding protein C) and can be used within 30 to 60 minutes of a heart attack, the authors explain. Thus, the test can be carried out already at the time of admission to a hospital and the results are available much faster, adds the author and cardiologist dr. Tom Kaier from King's College London.

Of patients with chest pain, only a maximum of 17 percent have a heart attack
Of all patients who receive chest pain, only 14 to 17 percent have a heart attack. The majority of people who go to hospital with chest pain do not have any serious complaints. In the future, we will not have to wait three more hours to decide whether patients should remain in the hospital, explains author Dr. Kaier.

Maybe the test will come on the market next year
The new test was performed on 2,000 patients and tested. The scientists are already in talks with technology companies to ensure that the test comes on the market within the next year.

New test can help patients and relieve the health system
The biggest challenge for physicians so far is to identify the patients who have a heart attack so that those affected can be treated quickly and effectively. The new approach could ensure that thousands of patients receive life-saving treatment more quickly, while reducing the burden on the healthcare system, the experts add. (As)