Key result
Current cardiac biomarkers, including CRP, BNP, and urinary microalbumin, lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity to justify their widespread use for cardiovascular risk prediction.
Why the study?
Do cardiac biomarkers (CRP, BNP, urinary microalbumin) improve cardiovascular risk prediction in asymptomatic individuals?
Do cardiac biomarkers (CRP, BNP, urinary microalbumin) improve cardiovascular risk prediction in asymptomatic individuals?
Current cardiac biomarkers like CRP, BNP, and urinary microalbumin lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity for widespread use in cardiovascular risk prediction among asymptomatic individuals.
Caution against routine use for risk prediction in asymptomatic patients; leaves open need for more sensitive markers.
Cardiovascular disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, making cardiovascular prevention an important public health goal. The use of cardiac biomarkers represents a potential, noninvasive method to identify asymptomatic individuals who are most likely to develop cardiovascular disease. Several known biomarkers predict cardiovascular risk above and beyond conventional risk factors. Nonetheless, available evidence suggests that current biomarkers do not have sufficient sensitivity or specificity to justify widespread use for cardiovascular risk prediction. New developments in molecular biology and genetics may allow the identification of additional biomarkers, likely acting via different pathways, to achieve this goal.
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May et al. (2007) conducted a review in Cardiovascular disease. Cardiac biomarkers (CRP, BNP, urinary microalbumin) was evaluated. Current cardiac biomarkers, including CRP, BNP, and urinary microalbumin, lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity to justify their widespread use for cardiovascular risk prediction.
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