NON- INVASIVE TEST TO CHECK FATAL HEART DISEASE

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

■ It also predicts which cases are potentially fatal, scientists said

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

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

■ 10 years of followup was done for the study

■ 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.

■ The technology does not require any radiation exposure

We know that CMR is effective at diagnosing coronary artery disease, but it represents less than 1% of stress tests used. Lack of data on its predictive value blocked its broader use. — Robert Judd, Duke University