The latest from the IVD industry: ever-growing importance of laboratory diagnostics in treating cardiovascular disease

Abstract

As cause of death, cardiovascular disease ranks top in mortality statistics. High blood pressure and other risk factors are common. Every year over 300,000 patients are admitted to hospitals in Germany for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Two million patients suffer from cardiac insufficiency, although the unrecorded figure is likely to be far higher. Against this background and in the light of the fact that an early, sound diagnosis of these conditions often saves life, tests have been used for about 50 years in the laboratory to detect substances in the blood which are able to identify the cardiovascular risk as well as the acute condition.