Researchers analysed 2,923 proteins in blood samples from 1,976 participants in the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) who had already had a heart attack when they joined the study and compared them with 2,001 participants who had never had a heart attack. The researchers then performed the same analysis for participants in UK Biobank to see whether the results could be applied to people largely of European descent.
Proteins play a crucial role in the regulation of the cardiovascular system, including C-reactive protein, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) or lipoprotein(a). Technological advances now enable researchers to measure the blood levels of thousands of proteins for use for predicting disease risk.
The study identified 446 proteins, including NT-proBNP and PCSK9, that were significantly associated with heart attack, even after taking into account conventional risk factors. Using data on proteins to inform existing risk prediction models improved the models’ ability to accurately predict risk of heart attack when compared with the use of conventional risk factors and genetic information alone. An analysis of individual proteins only yielded modest improvements in risk prediction for heart attacks.
Read the full story on the Nuffield Department of Population Health (NDPH) website.