Researchers from the Universities of East Anglia (UEA), Sheffield, and Leeds have made significant progress in how heart failure is identified in women, which means that more female patients can receive a diagnosis at an earlier stage. The research has focused on refining the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect heart failure in women’s hearts, making the process more precise. Dr. Pankaj Garg, the lead author of the study, highlights the importance of these findings in improving heart failure detection for female patients.Norwich Medical School at East Anglia and a consultant cardiologist at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital stated that by refining the diagnostic method for women, they were able to detect 16.5% more cases of heart failure in females. This improvement could have a significant impact on the NHS, which currently diagnoses approximately 200,000 patients with heart failure annually. The enhanced method is expected to lead to earlier detection and treatment for more women, ultimately saving lives. In 2022, research conducted by UEA and the University of Sheffield demonstrated the potential of using MRI scans to detect heart failure, ultimately leading to the development of this technique.widely used by doctors.
When the heart begins to fail, it struggles to effectively pump blood out, causing an increase in pressure within the heart.
Dr. Gareth Matthews, a co-author from the University of East Anglia’s Norwich Medical School, explained: “Currently, one of the most effective methods for diagnosing heart failure is by measuring the pressures inside the heart using a tube known as a catheter.
“While this method is highly accurate, it is also invasive and comes with risks for patients, which limits its use.
According to the team, the traditional method of assessing heart function is not accurate in about 50% of cases. They believe that using MRI can provide more precise images of the heart’s performance.
Through their research, the team developed an equation that allows them to estimate the pressure in the heart without invasive procedures, using an MRI scanner.
However, previous attempts to use this approach were not as effective in diagnosing heart failure in women, particularly in the early stages of the disease. This was a concern for the researchers.
Co-author Professor Andy Swift from the University of Sheffield’s School of Medicine and Population Health noted that women’s hearts have biological differences compared to men’s.
“Our research indicates that women’s hearts may react differently to increases in pressure in cases of heart failure.”
Heart failure can be classified differently based on the heart’s ejection fraction, which refers to the amount of blood pumped out of the heart’s main chamber with each beat.
Women are disproportionately affected by a type of heart failure in which the heart’s pumping function is preserved but its ability to relax and fill with blood is impaired.
Echocardiography faces challenges in diagnosing this type of heart failure. There have been improvements in the diagnosis of this type of heart failure as a result.New research will lead to more accurate diagnosis of a specific group of individuals and, hopefully, result in improved treatments. According to co-author Dr. Peter Swoboda from the University of Leeds’ Faculty of Medicine and Health, the debilitating symptoms of heart failure, such as breathlessness and fatigue, can have a significant impact on the quality of life for patients. Early diagnosis is increasingly being recognized as important, as it can lead to improved symptoms and life expectancy through early treatment. This research aims to expedite the diagnosis of heart failure in women and get them on life-saving treatments sooner. The Government’s HealThe Secretary of Health and Social Care, Victoria Atkins, expressed, “The impact of heart failure on countless women in the UK is devastating. This breakthrough in research could potentially lead to early diagnosis and treatment for thousands of individuals.”
“As we enter the second year of our Women’s Health Strategy for England, I have emphasized the need for more research to understand the gender-specific differences in how conditions manifest.”
“I am pleased that this government-supported research has risen to the challenge, enabling us to provide life-saving treatment to women more quickly.”
The research is an important step towards improving healthcare for women.The University of East Anglia, University of Leeds, University of Sheffield, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, National Heart Research Institute Singapore, Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore, Queen Mary University of London, National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre, University of Amsterdam, and Kocaeli City Hospital in Turkey collaborated on this project. The funding came from the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre, the Wellcome Trust, and the National Medical Research Council (NMRC).
Â
