Many cases of serious heart disease missed due to old systems

The Medical Editor of the Telegraph in June 2009 reported: “Hundreds of cases of serious heart disease are being missed every year by the NHS, which is putting thousands more through needless tests which waste around £40 million a year.” The article went on to say, “The current tests used to identify people at risk of a major heart attackThe death of a section of heart muscle caused by an interruption in its blood supply. Also called a myocardial infarction. – because their bloodA fluid that transports oxygen and other substances through the body, made up of blood cells suspended in a liquid. vessels are dangerously narrowed – are inadequate, costly and even risky.”

The report was based on information from Prof Lahiri of the Wellington Hospital who said: “Patients with chest pain are referred for initial tests and then sent for an angiogramAn X-ray image of the blood vessels following the injection of a dye to improve visibility. which involves injecting dye into the veins and then taking a series of x-rays to find narrowing.”

So what exactly is the problem with the usual heart screen?

40% of the angiograms show nothing, meaning the waste of a £1,000 procedure.

1 in 10 patients with chest pain perform well on other tests due to false negatives and are therefore discharged.

The bottom line according to Prof Lahiri is, “It is not uncommon for the NHS to turn patients away and them drop dead of a heart attack.”

So what’s the solution?

Dual Source Definition CTThe abbreviation for computed tomography, a scan that generates a series of cross-sectional x-ray images – this imaging configuration, according to Prof Lahiri provides the greatest information on the state of the coronaryRelating to the arteries supplying the heart itself. arteries, unlike an angiogram it is non-invasiveAny test or technique that does not involve penetration of the skin. The term 'non-invasive' may also describe tumours that do not invade surrounding tissues. and at £400 a screen is considerably more cost-effective as well as accurate.

The article, Latest Cardiac Diagnostics and Treatment Methods has been written in plain English for anyone who is concerned about chest pain and would like to rule out the possibility of cardiovascular diseaseDisease of the heart and blood vessels, usually due to atherosclerosis..