CARDIAC MAGNETIC RESONANCE CAN NON-INVASIVELY IDENTIFY THE SEVERITY OF HEART DISEASE

■ Radiation ‘gating’ keep body warm/cool

It also predicts which cases are potentially fatal, scientists said

It is a non-toxic alternative to stress echocardiograms, catheterisations and stress nuclear exams

3.4 times more risk of death for patients with abnormal CMR scan if they had no history of heart disease

Strong association found between abnormal stress CMR and mortality after adjusting for age, sex, and cardiac risk factors.

9,000 patients who underwent CMR at seven Amercian hospitals were analysed for the data

10 years of follow-up was done for the study

The technology does not require any radiation exposure