Experts are advocating for the routine use of a £6 urine test that can predict the risk of heart attacks and strokes, suggesting it should be as common as cholesterol checks for assessing cardiovascular health. The test, which measures albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) in urine, can identify potential issues long before symptoms appear.
Growing evidence indicates that weakened kidneys are a significant factor in heart complications. However, the National Health Service (NHS) reportedly does not routinely test at-risk patients for this condition. Experts believe that the readily available and low-cost nature of the urine test makes it a valuable tool for proactive healthcare.
According to Dr. Mark Thomas, elevated ACR levels can increase an individual's risk of heart attack or stroke by over a third. Integrating this test into regular health screenings could allow for earlier interventions and potentially prevent serious cardiovascular events. The call for increased accessibility to this test highlights a potential gap in current cardiovascular risk assessment protocols, emphasizing the importance of kidney health in predicting heart disease.