Scientists develop rapid, affordable heart disease diagnostic tool

Scientists have developed a quick and reliable method to assess the risk of heart disease through blood tests. This new technique can measure 25 important markers, like cholesterol, in under 15 minutes using radio waves. It aims to help more people, especially in remote areas, get timely diagnoses and treatments for heart issues. The study was led by researchers from Murdoch University and other institutions, who published their findings in the journal Analytical Chemistry. The new method uses affordable benchtop NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) systems, making it easier to evaluate cardiovascular disease risk in clinics around the world. Traditional methods mostly focus on a limited set of markers and require expensive equipment, which is often not available in many healthcare settings. The research team created a model that allows these compact NMR devices to accurately analyze key lipoprotein markers in less time. This advancement could improve how doctors monitor cardiometabolic risks and manage conditions like diabetes and obesity. Professor Jeremy Nicholson, a leading researcher, noted that this technology is reproducible across different labs, showing its reliability. The ability to perform detailed lipoprotein analysis using easier-to-maintain instruments marks a significant shift in preventive healthcare. The researchers believe early detection of heart disease markers will lead to better patient outcomes. The technology could also be used to manage diabetes, track chronic inflammation, and identify viral infections more effectively. Researchers hope that making this testing more affordable and accessible will change how heart disease and other chronic conditions are managed, especially in underserved communities. The study has garnered support from various health organizations and aims to further refine the technology for broader use in clinical settings. While currently meant for research, the findings could lead to important breakthroughs in public health and personal medicine.