Press release -
Stroke Association comment on New blood test predicts risk of heart attack and stroke with twice previous accuracy
Dr Richard Francis, Head of Research Stroke Association said: “We welcome these promising findings for a new blood test which may be able to predict a person’s risk of stroke and heart attack. This test may have the potential to help prevent strokes by guiding treatment decisions, so those at highest risk of stroke are prescribed additional medications. The test could also speed up the development of new treatments getting into the clinic. This test looked at proteins in the blood and was better at predicting someone's risk of stroke vs the previous clinical standard which looked at other markers, such as blood fats, blood pressure and age.
“The study used data from previously conducted clinical trials. More research is needed to show whether this test can accurately predict stroke and heart attack risk before people develop these conditions and whether it preforms better than current clinical practice. The biggest thing you can do to reduce your risk of stroke is to manage your known risk factors. Our advice is to monitor your blood pressure, exercise regularly and eat a healthy and balanced diet. If you are worried about your risk of stroke talk to your GP.”
Topics
- Stroke strikes every five minutes in the UK and it changes lives in an instant.
- The Stroke Association is a charity working across the UK to support people to rebuild their lives after stroke. We believe that everyone deserves to live the best life they can after stroke. From local support services and groups, to online information and support, anyone affected by stroke can visit stroke.org.uk or call our dedicated Stroke Helpline on 0303 3033 100 to find out about support available locally.
- Our specialist support, research and campaigning are only possible with the courage and determination of the stroke community and the generosity of our supporters. With more donations and support, we can help rebuild even more lives.
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