Is your heart ageing faster than you are? UK scientists develop tool to track its ‘functional age'
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Imagine undergoing a medical scan and immediately learning your heart is ageing faster than you are – and that without lifestyle changes, you're likely to develop cardiovascular problems.
Scientists in the United Kingdom have created a tool to do just that.
Researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) analysed data from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from 557 people – including 336 with obesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes – in the UK, Spain, and Singapore.
They measured traits like the size of the heart's chambers and how well it pumps blood, which are often used to predict cardiovascular outcomes. They then developed a formula to determine the heart's 'functional age'.
Related
New AI tool that can predict death could be a game-changer for prolonging heart patients' lives
On average, the hearts of people with health risk factors were 4.6 years older than their actual ages, according to the study published in the
European Heart Journal.
People with obesity experienced even more acceleration in functional heart ageing.
'People with health issues like diabetes or obesity often have hearts that are ageing faster than they should – sometimes by decades,' Dr Pankaj Garg, a cardiologist and the study's lead researcher, said in a statement.
Related
Just 1 in 9 people in France has optimal heart health, government agency says
The tool has some limitations. It doesn't take into account how long the patients had their health issues, and those studied only included people who lived with these conditions into older age – an issue known as 'survivor bias'.
The study group was also small, and the model would likely need to be tested in a broader group of people before it is used.
Even so, the researchers said they hope doctors could eventually use the tool to counsel patients at risk of heart health problems, and to make it easier for them to diagnose cardiovascular diseases.
Related
Older people are more likely to face serious heart problems in the US than in Denmark
'By knowing your heart's true age, patients could get advice or treatments to slow down the ageing process, potentially preventing heart attacks or strokes,' Garg said, citing lifestyle changes like healthy diet and exercise.
'It's about giving people a fighting chance against heart disease," he added.
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Is your heart ageing faster than you are? UK scientists develop tool to track its ‘functional age'
ADVERTISEMENT Imagine undergoing a medical scan and immediately learning your heart is ageing faster than you are – and that without lifestyle changes, you're likely to develop cardiovascular problems. Scientists in the United Kingdom have created a tool to do just that. Researchers from the University of East Anglia (UEA) analysed data from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans from 557 people – including 336 with obesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes – in the UK, Spain, and Singapore. They measured traits like the size of the heart's chambers and how well it pumps blood, which are often used to predict cardiovascular outcomes. They then developed a formula to determine the heart's 'functional age'. Related New AI tool that can predict death could be a game-changer for prolonging heart patients' lives On average, the hearts of people with health risk factors were 4.6 years older than their actual ages, according to the study published in the European Heart Journal. People with obesity experienced even more acceleration in functional heart ageing. 'People with health issues like diabetes or obesity often have hearts that are ageing faster than they should – sometimes by decades,' Dr Pankaj Garg, a cardiologist and the study's lead researcher, said in a statement. Related Just 1 in 9 people in France has optimal heart health, government agency says The tool has some limitations. It doesn't take into account how long the patients had their health issues, and those studied only included people who lived with these conditions into older age – an issue known as 'survivor bias'. The study group was also small, and the model would likely need to be tested in a broader group of people before it is used. Even so, the researchers said they hope doctors could eventually use the tool to counsel patients at risk of heart health problems, and to make it easier for them to diagnose cardiovascular diseases. Related Older people are more likely to face serious heart problems in the US than in Denmark 'By knowing your heart's true age, patients could get advice or treatments to slow down the ageing process, potentially preventing heart attacks or strokes,' Garg said, citing lifestyle changes like healthy diet and exercise. 'It's about giving people a fighting chance against heart disease," he added.
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