Diagnostic markers for improved cardiac care

Roche is dedicated to developing diagnostic markers to help improve patient pathways in a number of disease areas, including cardiac care. Some of the most recent diagnostic developments, and how they can be used to improve two significant cardiac care pathways, were discussed recently at an evening of seminars, sponsored by Roche, for primary and secondary healthcare professionals involved in the treatment and care of cardiac patients in Bristol and across the surrounding area.

Heart failure
The care pathway for heart failure was the first to be discussed at the Roche evening seminars, including the role of NT-proBNP as a diagnostic marker to exclude heart failure and improve the quality of patient referrals for further investigation and specialist opinion. Dr Richard Berkley, a GP with special interest in heart failure, NHS South Gloucestershire, began by describing the impact of heart failure on patients and the health service.

Almost a million people in the UK have been diagnosed with heart failure,1 accounting for 5% of medical ward admissions. The treatment of heart failure patients is estimated to cost the NHS around £625 million every year.2 Patients with heart failure have a poor prognosis, with an average life expectancy of only about three years following diagnosis.2 The importance of appropriate treatment and care is highlighted in the European Heart Failure Survey, which revealed that 24% of patients admitted with heart failure are readmitted within three months.3 Quality of life is one of the most important issues for patients with heart failure and is a good indicator of prognosis.