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A simple blood test costing just £5 could help prevent thousands of heart attacks and strokes by spotting hidden heart damage before symptoms appear, according to a major study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Funded by the British Heart Foundation, the research was led by Professor Anoop Shah from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
The test measures troponin, a protein released into the bloodstream when heart muscle is damaged. While already used to confirm heart attacks, the study suggests it can also detect "silent" damage early—long before an emergency occurs. By adding troponin testing to existing cardiovascular risk checks at GP surgeries, doctors could better identify patients at risk and offer preventive treatments, such as statins.
Researchers analysed data from over 62,000 people in Europe and the US, tracking their health over a decade. They found that those with higher troponin levels were significantly more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke, even if their levels were considered normal. Notably, the test was especially helpful in identifying high-risk individuals within the “intermediate risk” group, where treatment decisions are often unclear.
When added to standard risk models, troponin testing improved prediction accuracy by up to four times compared to using cholesterol levels alone. The findings suggest this quick and inexpensive test could play a key role in more precise, preventive cardiovascular care.
