Rapid test will protect athletes from sudden death
Based on experimental data, specialists from Lobachevsky Nizhny Novgorod State University (NNSU) have confirmed the possibility of noninvasive diagnosis of heart muscle damage. The approach developed by scientists is based on the analysis of the level of troponin protein in saliva, which makes it possible to quickly identify the risks of cardiovascular complications in athletes.
Previously, a blood test in the laboratory was required to determine the level of troponin, which is considered the "gold standard" for diagnosing myocardial damage. Nizhny Novgorod researchers have shown that the concentration of this protein in saliva is related to its content in the blood.
"The results obtained open up new possibilities in cardiac monitoring of athletes. An express saliva test will allow you to quickly receive information about heart damage caused by physical exertion, which can help save people's lives, given the growing interest in extreme sports both in Russia and around the world. Imagine a glucose meter for diabetics, but instead of blood, it uses saliva, and it does not measure sugar, but damage to your heart after a marathon. We are now starting research related to the verification of the developed approach in clinical practice. We are talking about a new project that was supported by the Russian Science Foundation and the ultimate goal of which is to create a predictive model for the early diagnosis of myocardial infarction in people involved in sports," said the project leader, head of the research Laboratory of Noninvasive Diagnostics in Sports, associate professor of the Department of Sports Medicine and Psychology of Nizhny Novgorod State University named after N.I. Lobachevsky. Alexander Ovchinnikov.
According to statistics, cardiovascular complications remain the leading cause of death among athletes. They account for 56% of sudden deaths during training.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
