Many French hospitals trial fingertip test for heart disease
Test takes 15 minutes and can detect early signs of the disease
Nine hospitals are still to take part in the trial
Ekie E Sularso/Shutterstock
Hospitals across France are taking part in a trial to detect early signs of heart disease through a 15-minute test.
The trial – the first of its kind in France – is to see whether large scale screening of the population can help reduce the risk of heart diseases through early diagnosis.
It was launched by the Société française de cardiologie (French society of cardiology) in September, and involved 25 hospitals, with nine still participating.
“The problem remains that most patients don't make the connection between symptoms and heart failure,” said Professor Michel Galinier, cardiologist at Toulouse CHU, to local media outlet La Dépêche.
The hospital will hold screenings next Tuesday (November 19) for the disease.
“Even in emergency departments, we find patients who had not previously consulted anyone, which is why it is important to study the possibility of widespread screening in the population,” he added.
How does the test work?
To take part, people simply have to turn up on the day the tests are being run (hours differ between each hospital).
In some cases, tests may only be available for people over a certain age – in Toulouse, 50 – although young attendees will still be able to ask healthcare professionals questions about the topic.
Participants taking a test will answer a questionnaire, before a small drop of blood is taken from one of their fingertips to be assessed for peptides produced when heart muscles are not functioning correctly.
If signs of the peptides are present, people will be invited to undertake an echocardiogram on the spot without making an appointment in advance.
Patients will also be informed of the signs of heart disease (breathlessness, weight gain, oedema of the feet and ankles, fatigue), and activities they can undertake to reduce the risk of it worsening.
Alongside Toulouse, the eight other hospitals still to have screening days are:
• Hôpital Saint-Joseph (Marseille), November 21
• CHU de Lille, December 3
• Hôpital privé Le Bois (Lille), December 5
• CHU de Caen, December 10
• CHU d'Amiens, December 10
• CHU de Rouen, December 12
• CHU de Reims, December 17
• CHU de Rennes, December 17
Read more: Why some cancer rates are rising more in women than men in France
Reduce strain on hospitals
Between 1.5 and 2 million people suffer from heart disease in France – a 25% increase in the last four years – although Assurance Maladie believes up to 700,000 of these go undiagnosed.
It is one of the largest killers in France, causing 70,000 deaths per year.
Detecting the issues early would help reduce the strain on hospitals.
Around 200,000 people per year are hospitalised due to heart disease.
Risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, diabetes, abnormal cholesterol levels, smoking, alcohol, ageing and chemotherapy treatments.
Read more: Diabetes: Everything you need to know about the condition in France
