A quick, non-invasive neck scan could help identify people at risk of developing heart failure years before symptoms appear, according to new NIHR-funded research.
The study, led by University College London and part-funded by the British Heart Foundation, found that a 15 to 30-minute carotid ultrasound can measure the flexibility of the carotid arteries in the neck – a key indicator of cardiovascular health.
Researchers scanned over 1,600 men aged 71 to 92 and discovered that those with the least flexible carotid arteries were 2.5 times more likely to develop heart failure than those with the most flexible arteries. This link remained strong even after accounting for other risk factors such as age, weight, smoking history, and previous heart attacks.
When carotid arteries lose flexibility, blood pressure can rise, placing strain on the heart and increasing the likelihood of heart failure over time. Heart failure affects around 200,000 people in the UK each year, causing symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath and fainting.
Currently, GPs do not routinely offer carotid scans to healthy patients without symptoms. However, researchers suggest that where capacity allows, offering the scan to older patients could help identify those at higher risk. Early detection would enable doctors to recommend lifestyle changes, such as healthier eating and increased exercise, or prescribe medication to reduce risk.
NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow Dr Atinuke Akinmolayan commented:
“The carotid ultrasound is a safe, cheap, and painless investigation, and our findings suggest it may be able to provide an early warning sign for heart failure.
“More research is needed, especially to see if this works for women, but this is something GPs could look at offering to people over the age of 60, where possible and believed needed.
“A patient who gets an ultrasound result indicating they may be at higher risk of future heart failure could have an important conversation with their doctor about lifestyle changes they could make to lower that risk.”
This breakthrough highlights the potential of simple diagnostic tools to transform prevention strategies and reduce the burden of heart failure on the NHS.
Image credit: iStock
