Marking World Heart Day, SRL Diagnostics with their theme “healthy hearts for healthy citizens” addresses the importance of a life course approach to the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases. This day will highlight the new ST2 test which makes the detection of high risk heart failure chances easier by measuring a specific biomarker in the bloodstream. This key medical test is available across India at all Fortis Labs/SRL Diagnostics Labs and its collection centres for just Rs.1600.

According to the International Journal of Scientific and Research Publications, Volume 3, cardiovascular diseases are expected to be the fastest growing chronic illness by 2015 growing at 9.2 per cent annually from 2000 onwards. The incidence has gone up significantly for people between 25-69 to 24.8 per cent. The present evidence suggests an average mortality of 4 per cent in the age group of 20-49 years and 6 per cent in those above 50 years due to the disease. This may remain the same till 2015 if the current situation continues for the next 10-15 years. The current age standardised CVD mortality rates among males and females in India (per 100,000) are 363-443 and 181-281 respectively as per a WHO report.
In an endeavour to address the growing concerns of the cardiovascular diseases, SRL diagnostics has come up with the first ever key medical test to diagnose heart failure in India, ST2 test. Speaking on the occasion, Dr B R Das, president-research & innovation, Mentor-Molecular Pathology and Clinical Research Services, SRL Diagnostics said, “Helping patients to stay away from surgeries and also the trauma attached to the same, ST2 is the mantra to fight against the growing cardiovascular ailments in India. This World Heart Day we chose to propagate the prevention, solution and guidelines for a healthy living to avoid the trauma of a heart attack. The success of World Heart Day depends on the proactivity of SRL to create heart-healthy atmospheres for every human being in the world.”

ST2 a novel biomarker for monitoring and prognosis of heart failure patients is only available with a prescription. Unlike many other cardiac biomarkers, ST2 correlates better with heart failure stages thus helping physicians make informed decisions on an appropriate course of action to take and, if needed, to quickly adjust treatment. It can reduce 30- day re-hospitalisation rates by 17.3 per cent and also reduce 30-day mortality rates by 17.6 per cent.

The risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) can be broadly categorized into modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. Hypertension, high cholesterol, physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle increase are modifiable factors while non-modifiable factors of a stroke include ageing, risk of stroke doubles every decade after age 55. Gender plays a significant role, where a man is at a greater risk of heart disease than a pre-menopausal woman. While ethnic origin is crucial too, people with African or Asian ancestry are at higher risks of developing cardiovascular disease than other racial groups.

SRL consistently follows the best of national and international quality protocols, thereby ensuring accuracy of every test report.