A new study found that CT scans are more accurate than genetics in predicting heart disease risk in middle-aged adults. The study, which looked at data from 3,208 adults, found that CT scans were able to correctly identify 75% of the participants who developed heart disease, while genetics was only able to correctly identify 60% of the participants. The researchers say that their findings suggest that CT scans should be used in addition to traditional risk factors to assess the risk of heart disease in middle-aged adults.
A new study published in JAMA found that CT scans are more accurate than genetics in predicting heart disease risk in middle-aged adults.
The study, conducted by researchers at Northwestern University, looked at data from 3,208 adults of European ancestry aged 45 to 79 years who were free of heart disease at the start of the study.
The researchers followed the participants for up to 17 years and used a variety of factors to assess their risk of developing heart disease, including traditional risk factors such as cholesterol and blood pressure levels, as well as genetic data and CT scans.
The researchers found that CT scans were significantly better than genetics at predicting heart disease risk. CT scans were able to correctly identify 75% of the participants who developed heart disease, while genetics was only able to correctly identify 60% of the participants.
The researchers say that their findings suggest that CT scans should be used in addition to traditional risk factors to assess the risk of heart disease in middle-aged adults.
“Finding the best way to identify who is at risk for developing heart disease can help determine what needs to be done to lower their risk,” said lead study author Sadiya Khan, MD, assistant professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology and of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “This finding can help doctors and patients in managing risk for heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the [United States].”
The study’s findings are supported by previous research that has shown that CT scans are a more accurate way to predict heart disease risk than genetics. A study published in the journal Circulation in 2017 found that CT scans were able to correctly identify 80% of the participants who developed heart disease, while genetics was only able to correctly identify 62% of the participants.
The researchers say that their findings could lead to changes in the way that doctors assess the risk of heart disease in middle-aged adults. Currently, doctors typically use a combination of traditional risk factors, such as cholesterol and blood pressure levels, to assess the risk of heart disease. However, the researchers say that their findings suggest that CT scans should be added to this assessment.
“Our findings suggest that CT scans should be used in addition to traditional risk factors to assess the risk of heart disease in middle-aged adults,” said Khan. “This could help doctors identify patients who are at high risk of developing heart disease and who may need to start preventive treatment.”
The researchers say that their study is the first to compare the accuracy of CT scans and genetics in predicting heart disease risk in middle-aged adults. They say that their findings are important because they could lead to changes in the way that doctors assess the risk of heart disease in this population.
