A Henry Ford Hospital study claims that several heart attack patients apparently have high levels of cardiac biomarkers in the blood for numerous months subsequent to leaving the hospital, with more shortness of breath and chest pain.
The study investigated a subset of patients in a 4,500-patient heart attack registry from about 24 U.S hospitals. It was seen that around 9 percent apparently had high levels of the biomarker troponin (TnT) post 6 months. Further it was observed that around 33 percent supposedly had high levels of the biomarker N-terminal pro B-type Natriuretic Peptide (NTBNP) past six months.
Both TnT and NTBNP are alleged to be linked to shortness of breath. NTBNP is said to be linked with angina. A biomarker is a protein gauged in the blood whose dilution could specify the existence or acuteness of the disease.
David Lanfear, M.D., a heart failure physician at Henry Ford and lead author of the study, commented, “These elevated biomarkers are definitely associated with a reduced quality of life for patients and may signal even worse outcomes. This data raises two important issues. The first is whether the biomarkers are a sign of ongoing problems or a reflection of the past heart attack itself. The second is whether closer monitoring of patients post heart attack can help target our treatment to those who need it most.â€
For the study, the experts evaluated the biomarker levels in patients one month and six months subsequent to their release from the hospital. At one and six months, around 14 percent and 9 percent of patients supposedly had high levels of TnT. It was apparently seen in one and six months that around 55 percent and 33 percent of patients supposedly had elevated levels of NTBNP.
The study was presented at the American Heart Association’s annual scientific conference in Orlando.