Doctors at QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (Australia) have developed a new saliva test that could detect heart failure, according to the results of a study published on the university website.
Researchers have been looking at ways to test saliva samples for the presence of a protein called galectin-3, a specific biomarker for heart failure.
The goal of their research: to produce a test that was faster to perform and easier to administer.
“We hope this test can provide patients with an accurate, quick and easy way to find out if they need hospital treatment. The advantage of saliva is that you don’t need trained medical personnel to take a sample. You can control the health of your heart at home, using technology, ”says Prof. Chamindie Punyadeera, Associate Professor QUT’s Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHB).
Heart failure in numbers
Heart failure is a serious and frequent disease as it is the third leading cause of death cardiovascular, behind strokes and myocardial infarctions.
It affects 1 to 2% of the adult population in developed countries and more than 10% of people aged 70 and over according to figures from the European Society of Cardiology.
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