Comprehensive Testing Now Available for Heart Disease Screening
Recognizing that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, Quest Diagnostics acquired Cleveland HeartLab to establish the Cardiometabolic Center of Excellence — a national organization focused on improving the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.
Separately, Cleveland HeartLab pioneered the development of personalized evaluation of heart disease risk based on inflammation and other biological markers, and Quest Diagnostics, a leader in genetic and metabolic testing, created the proprietary Cardio IQ Ion Mobility test for lipid particle analysis.
Since the two companies joined forces in December of 2017, they have moved quickly to broaden access to their advanced diagnostic services. During the spring of 2018, Quest made available eight new tests from Cleveland HeartLab on its Cardio IQ menu.
Similarly, CHL expanded its offering, adding six new tests from Quest. As a result, we now have ready access to each organization’s offerings, empowering us to deliver higher quality care to our patients who face cardiovascular-related risks.
The testing services we now have access to here at BioDesign Wellness Center are designed to go beyond conventional laboratory diagnostics, such as cholesterol panels, which often fail to account for other important risk factors — issues such as inflammation and genetic susceptibilities.
The new tests examine genetic, inflammatory, and other markers to help us identify patients with an elevated risk of developing heart disease, enabling us to recommend measures reducing the prospect of heart disease before they occur.
Results from these tests also help us develop a clearer understanding of what’s going on at the root level, so we can develop personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique health profile.
In the following sections, we provide a brief description of the tests recently added to Quest’s Cardio IQ menu.
Inflammation
Research has found that inflammation can indicate a heightened risk of certain diseases, including heart disease. The Quest Diagnostics Cardio IQ menu now includes access to Cleveland HeartLab’s new inflammatory marker test services.
Results from these tests help us evaluate a patient’s risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) across the continuum of disease, from risk identification of early-stage CVD to the presence of disease to late-stage disease activity.
These tests include F2-Isoprostanes, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA).
Metabolic Marker
Eating right and exercising are keys to heart health. Your metabolic state can influence the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. A key metabolic marker for this is Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO).
The TMAO test can help identify hidden risk for a heart attack or stroke in seemingly healthy patients before symptoms strike. Data show that high levels of TMAO can contribute to a heightened risk for clot-related events, such as heart attack and stroke.
While Cleveland HeartLab has offered TMAO testing for several years, we now have more convenient access to this test through the Quest Diagnostics’ Cardio IQ menu.
Learn More Here: Getting to the Heart of Cardiovascular Disease Through Testing
Other Risk Markers
Quest also launched two additional tests that enable us to evaluate markers that may indicate an increased risk of cardiovascular disease:
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The OmegaCheck test analyzes levels of healthy Omega 3s and unhealthy Omega 6s. Diets rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are generally thought to be beneficial for heart health. Omega-3 PUFAs, also called n-3 PUFAs, are involved in multiple biological pathways.
These pathways include coagulation, muscle function, cellular transport, and cell division and growth — all affecting heart health. In contrast, Omega-6 PUFAs, such as arachidonic acid (AA) and linoleic acid (LA) and their metabolites are more pro-inflammatory than anti-inflammatory.
- The small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (sdLDL) and high-density lipoprotein 2b (HDL2b) tests measure smaller and heavier than typical LDL cholesterol, which can increase a patient’s risk of developing atherosclerosis and those with cardiovascular disease or those with low total HDL levels or high triglyceride levels, respectively.
What to Expect: Your Test Results
Quest Diagnostics provides a detailed report delivering your test results in an easy-to-read format, as shown in the example below, along with treatment options and goals. Results are color coded as follows:
- Green for optimal
- Yellow for moderate risk
- Red for high risk
A detailed review of this report enables us to identify any underlying health issues that may increase your risk of developing heart disease. We review the report with you during your follow-up appointment, discuss your treatment options, and work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to address any and all issues highlighted in the report.
Heart disease did not become a leading cause of death until the middle of the 20th century, driven mostly by an increase in smoking and changes in diet. It need not pose a significant risk to your or your loved ones, as long as lifestyle and nutritional factors are addressed before they have a serious and lasting negative impact on your health.
At BioDesign Wellness Center, our heart disease specialist strongly encourage you to take advantage of the advanced testing now available through Quest Diagnostics and the Cleveland HeartLab to evaluate your risks and identify and address any underlying issues.