A team of Swedish researchers from the University of Gothenburg developed a questionnaire to be used at home to quickly identify the risk of heart attack, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association. Results showed the same level of accuracy as blood tests and pressure measurements.
“A heart attack often comes out of the blue,” said Göran Bergström, Professor of Clinical Physiology at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg. “Many of those who suffer heart attacks are apparently healthy and asymptomatic but have fatty deposits in the coronary arteries, known as atherosclerosis. Our test makes it possible to identify almost two-thirds of people aged 50–64 who have significant coronary atherosclerosis and are therefore at high risk of cardiovascular disease.”
The test includes 14 questions, and it only takes 5 minutes to complete. Questions relate to factors including age, gender, weight, waist circumference, smoking, high blood pressure, high blood fats, diabetes, and family history of cardiovascular disease.
To test the survey, the team used data from the SCAPIS population study based at the University of Gothenburg, with the Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation as its main sponsor. The study included 25,000 individuals aged 50–64, and all participants had their coronary arteries examined using computed tomography, which measures their degree of atherosclerosis.
The team then compared the images of the heart with questionnaires completed by the participants to determine which factors had the closest links with the degree of atherosclerosis. In addition, they launched studies in the United States to evaluate how the test works on different groups.
According to the study, putting the survey answers through a special algorithm can detect 65% of individuals at the highest risk of cardiovascular disease. “The results show that our home test is as accurate as a clinic examination using blood tests and blood pressure measurements,” said Professor Bergström. “If we can make the test widely available within healthcare, it can save lives and prevent suffering by helping us to identify those who are at high risk of heart attack or who are currently undertreated.”
Identifying people at risk before disease occurs is the main objective of the Swedish Heart Lung Foundation. “A test that can provide early warnings would save many lives and a great deal of suffering. The results of Professor Bergström’s study are therefore extremely interesting,” concluded the foundation’s Secretary-General Kristina Sparreljung.
Bergström G, Hagberg E, Björnson E, Adiels M, Bonander C, Strömberg U, Andersson J, Brunström M, Carlhäll CJ, Engström G, Erlinge D, Goncalves I, Gummesson A, Hagström E, Hjelmgren O, James S, Janzon M, Jonasson L, Lind L, Magnusson M, Oskarsson V, Sundström J, Svensson P, Söderberg S, Themudo R, Östgren CJ, Jernberg T. Self-Report Tool for Identification of Individuals With Coronary Atherosclerosis: The Swedish CardioPulmonary BioImage Study. J Am Heart Assoc. 2024 Jul 16;13(14):e034603.