A new test has been discovered to make it easier for physicians to gauge a new indicator of heart disease risk. This test will be very helpful for African-American women who are at higher risk for certain heart ailments.
According to a news report by NBC News, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved a new test on Monday that will specifically measure and gauge an indicator of heart disease risk especially for black women or African-American women.
The test aims to measure the inflammation caused by the build-up of plaques and cholesterol gunk in the arterial walls that predisposes a person to many cardiovascular diseases including heart disease and increased blood pressure. The test can show the risk of the patient having a heart attack or stroke even if the person does not have a high cholesterol level in the blood.
It also aims to detect the risk for people of having coronary artery disease in the future. African-American women are at higher risk for these diseases because of their race and genetic make -up.
According to FDA's Alberto Gutierrrez, "A cardiac test that helps better predict future coronary heart disease risk in women, and especially black women, may help health care professionals identify these patients before they experience a serious CHD event, like a heart attack."
Subsequently, the test can also measure the amounts of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in the blood that can specify whether there is a buildup of plaque on the arterial walls and irritating the lining of the blood vessels that can eventually lead to high blood pressure.
Dr. Jenifer Mieres of the North Shore-LIJ Health System and co-author of the book, "Heart Smart for Black Women and Latinas" said that a commercial version should be easier to get so doctors will use the test.
She told NBC News, "It makes it much more readily available and reimbursable by insurers. When you put it in context with the fact that black women are at the highest risk of coronary disease ... this makes it really easier to target women at higher risk."
According to the latest data from the World Health Organization, in 2012, cardiovascular diseases were the leading cause of NCD deaths (17.5 million deaths).
People with Lp-PLA2 levels above 225 will have a coronary artery disease rate of about 7 percent over the next five years compared to only 3% in people with lower level of the marker. However, African-American women are most likely to score higher in the test than in other races.
