Abbott receives CE mark for Troponin test that predicts heart attacks

Physicians now have a blood test that looks at a biomarker from the heart, so people can confidently take the appropriate lifestyle to help prevent heart disease

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, as well as in India. Yet unlike other conditions, heart disease can be prevented if identified early and managed through lifestyle changes and medication as needed.

To help people take control of their heart health, Abbott recently announced that its High Sensitive Troponin-I blood test is the first troponin test with CE Mark that can more accurately predict the chances of having a heart attack or other cardiac event potentially months to years in advance in people who otherwise appear healthy.

This technology has the potential to transform how doctors identify those at risk for developing heart disease because the diagnostic test uses a biomarker specific to the heart. European guidelines currently recommend that doctors look at indirect heart health factors, such as a person’s cholesterol levels, blood pressure as well as if they have diabetes or are a smoker, to determine risk for developing heart disease.

A substantial body of research has shown that measuring a person’s troponin levels using Abbott’s High Sensitive Troponin-I test provides better predictive information for determining a person’s chances of developing future heart disease when added to the current standard of care.

Nick Mills, a cardiologist and researcher at the British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science at the University of Edinburgh, is an author of one such study that evaluated the impact of troponin tests. The West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study (WOSCOPS) found that troponin-I levels were an indicator of an increased risk of coronary heart disease independent of cholesterol levels lowering, and identified the patients who benefited most from preventive treatments with a statin. “Our ultimate goal as healthcare providers is to prevent the onset of disease, not just treat or manage its consequences,” said Dr. Mills.

Because the High Sensitive Troponin-I test can detect very low levels of troponin, the test now can be used to determine cardiac risk in people with no reported symptoms of heart disease. Using this diagnostic test during the same blood draw of a routine health exam, doctors will be able to look at what’s actually happening to the heart and better determine their patients’ risk of developing heart disease, such as a heart attack or other cardiac event, in the future.

Narendra Varde, General Manager and Country Head at Abbott’s Diagnostics business, explains how the test will be introduced in India, “As we launch our test this week during World Heart Day, Abbott will work with physicians and laboratories in India to determine how this could fit within their existing practices for prevention or annual health check-ups. Given the burden of cardiac disease in India, this test that can be added to doctors’ current standards of care during a routine health check-up to help transform preventive care.”