Genetic test can determine risk of heart disease
A GENETIC test that can identify people at an increased risk of heart disease has been developed by scientists.
People with the highest risk score based on the 13 markers were 70 per cent more likely to develop heart disease than those with the lowest. Each of the markers is a single-letter change in the genetic code, or single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP).
Scientists used the SNPs to work out risk scores for more than 30,700 volunteers from Finland and Sweden.
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Hide AdDr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "This interesting study demonstrates that it's possible to identify some individuals who are at increased risk of coronary heart disease based on their genetic make-up.
"This is an important step in understanding how our genes affect our propensity for coronary heart disease."