New Heart-Screening Device ,An Accurate Predictor Of Heart Disease

A new study shows a device that measures the stiffness of arteries may help doctors accurately diagnose heart disease and identify patients at risk for a stroke.

Researchers studied more than 250 participants. The patients were tested with a “blood-pressure-like” device, which measured blood volume in the leg as a way to determine artery stiffness. Patients were also screened with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to confirm the device’s effectiveness.

Results show the screening device was an accurate predictor of heart disease. Patients who are in the early stages of heart disease experience a hardening or stiffness in their arteries. Researchers say using the non-invasive test to detect this stiffness earlier would allow treatment to begin sooner, which could save lives.

However researchers say the test is still under development and is not yet ready for clinical use.