Urine Test Could Predict Heart Attacks and Strokes, Experts Say
A simple and inexpensive urine test may be able to identify individuals at high risk for heart attacks and strokes, prompting calls for its wider adoption by healthcare providers.
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.