A genetic biomarker is described as a known DNA sequence that causes disease or is associated with susceptibility to disease. Using genetic biomarkers to predict the severity of HF for a person as well as how that person is likely to respond to treatment would tremendously improve our ability to manage the disease for that patient. Precision health is about prescribing an individual patient with the right drug, at the right dose, at the right time. This would allow for earlier intervention and the increased potential to slow progression.
Heart Failure (HF) is a clinical syndrome caused by cardiac dysfunction, meaning the heart has difficulty pumping blood around the body. Symptoms of heart failure include fatigue, shortness of breath and ankle swelling 1. The severity of disease can vary greatly between different people. Furthermore, some patients respond well to treatments while others do not respond as well. These differences indicate that there are many complex pathways at play in the development of heart failure.
There are two main HF sub-types, and they are distinguished based on the LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction) which is a measurement of how much blood is being pumped out of the left ventricle of the heart. Patients with an LVEF of >50% are said to have normal LVEF, known as HFpEF (heart failure with preserved EF). Patients with an LVEF of <40% are said to have reduced EF, HFrEF. A small proportion of patients fall somewhere between these two sub-types and are referred to as having a mid-range EF, HFmrEF 1. Diagnosis of these sub-types is made by carrying out an ultrasound of the heart known as an echocardiogram, in addition to measuring the levels of natriuretic peptides (BNP) in the blood.
people with Heart Failure have already taken part in this study.
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