New genetic tool to predict heart disease risk developed

New genetic tool to predict heart disease risk developed

IANSUpdated: Thursday, May 30, 2019, 12:28 PM IST
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London : To identify individuals at risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) much earlier and improve its prevention, a new genetic risk tool has been developed by an Indian-origin researcher, according to IANS.

Genetic factors have long been known to make a significant contribution to CHD risk. Recent advances in genetics have led to the identification of many Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, or SNPs – very small differences in our DNA that vary from person to person.

The research, published in the European Heart Journal, shows how using this new knowledge could pave the way for earlier and more personalised preventative interventions. By looking at over 49,000 SNPs the researchers created a score, known as a genomic risk score (GRS), and showed that the higher the GRS the higher the future risk of CHD.

People with a GRS in the top 20 per cent had an over five-fold higher life-time risk of CHD. The clinical risk scores are based on known risk factors for CHD such as cholesterol level, having high blood pressure or diabetes and smoking.

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