Shafaqna Health: A new method for a routine blood test could predict a person’s risk of heart disease up to 30 years in advance, according to research published in the *New England Journal of Medicine*. Traditionally, doctors assess cardiovascular risk by measuring LDL cholesterol, but this approach misses other crucial risk factors.
Dr. Paul Ridker, lead author of the study and director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, found that two additional markers — lipoprotein (a), or Lp(a), and C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammation indicator — are important predictors of heart attack, stroke, and coronary heart disease.
The study analyzed data from nearly 30,000 women in the Women’s Health Study, with a follow-up period of 30 years. Women with high levels of LDL cholesterol, Lp(a), and CRP were found to have significantly increased risks of heart disease, stroke, and coronary events.
While these markers have been individually linked to heart disease, combining them provides a clearer picture of a person’s risk, emphasizing the need for early intervention and broader testing beyond traditional risk factors.