Advanced Heart Disease Risk Blood Test
Advanced Heart Disease Risk Blood Test
Advanced Heart Disease Risk Blood Test
Advanced Heart Disease Risk Blood Test
Advanced Heart Disease Risk Blood Test, from our experts to you.
Dr Sam Rodgers MBBS, MRCGP

Chief Medical Officer

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What is
heart disease risk based on?

Everybody has a different level of risk of developing heart disease. Your risk is based on your general health, lifestyle, and if you have a family history of the disease. Our advanced test looks at risk factors that may lead to heart disease in the future. It measures your cholesterol, specifically your ratio of HDL (good) cholesterol to LDL (bad) cholesterol, as a high ratio (above 20%) is protective against heart disease.

What's a measure of
fatty or inflamed arteries?

Triglycerides are a measure of the actual fat in your blood, and high sensitivity C reactive protein is a marker for inflammation in the body. High LDL cholesterol coupled with inflamed arteries is considered a dangerous combination, which can lead to plaque deposits on artery walls. Lipoprotein (a) is a genetic variation of LDL (bad) cholesterol. A high level of Lp(a) is a significant risk factor for the premature development of fatty deposits in arteries.

What's the difference
between apos A and B?

Apolipoproteins (apos) are the proteins which attach themselves to the fats in our blood. High levels of apo A appear protective against heart disease, whereas high levels of apo B represent a higher risk of heart disease.

What's Included?

Cholesterol status
Inflammation
Select profile for more information
Total cholesterol Cholesterol is an essential fat (lipid) in the body. Although it has a bad reputation it has some important functions, including building cell membranes and producing a number of essential hormones including testosterone and oestradiol. Cholesterol is manufactured in the liver and also comes from the food we eat. Although there are a number of different types of cholesterol, the two main components of total cholesterol are HDL (high density lipoprotein) which is protective against heart disease and LDL (low density lipoprotein) which, in high levels, can contribute to cardiovascular disease. Your total cholesterol result on its own is of limited value in understanding your risk of heart disease; high levels of HDL cholesterol can cause a raised total cholesterol result but may actually be protective against heart disease. Equally, you can have a normal total cholesterol level but have low levels of protective HDL cholesterol. The most important factors are how much HDL and LDL cholesterol you have, and what proportion of your total cholesterol is made up of protective HDL cholesterol. We give a detailed breakdown of the components of your total cholesterol in the rest of this cholesterol profile.
LDL cholesterol LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein) is a molecule made of lipids and proteins which transports cholesterol, triglycerides and other fats to various tissues throughout the body. Too much LDL cholesterol, commonly called 'bad cholesterol', can cause fatty deposits to accumulate inside artery walls, potentially leading to atherosclerosis and heart disease.
Non - HDL cholesterol Your total cholesterol is broken down into 2 main components; HDL (good) cholesterol and LDL (bad). There are more types of harmful cholesterol in your blood than just LDL - these include VLDL (very low-density lipoproteins) and other lipoproteins which are thought to be even more harmful than LDL cholesterol. Non-HDL cholesterol is calculated by subtracting your HDL cholesterol value from your total cholesterol. It therefore includes all the non-protective and potentially harmful cholesterol in your blood, not just LDL. As such, it is considered to be a better marker for cardiovascular risk than total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The recommended level of non-HDL cholesterol is below 4 mmol/L.
HDL cholesterol HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein) is a molecule in the body which removes cholesterol from the bloodstream and transports it to the liver where it is broken down and removed from the body in bile. HDL cholesterol is commonly known as 'good cholesterol'.
Total cholesterol : HDL The cholesterol/HDL ratio is calculated by dividing your total cholesterol value by your HDL cholesterol level. It is used as a measure of cardiovascular risk because it gives a good insight into the proportion of your total cholesterol which is good (i.e. high-density lipoprotein HDL). Heart disease risk tools (such as QRisk) use the cholesterol/HDL ratio to calculate your risk of having a heart attack.
Triglycerides Triglycerides are a type of fat (lipid) that circulate in the blood. After you eat, your body converts excess calories (whether from fat or carbohydrates) into triglycerides which are then transported to cells to be stored as fat. Your body then releases triglycerides when required for energy.
Apolipoprotein A1 Apolipoprotein A1, or ApoA1 is a major protein that is a component of high-density lipoprotein, or HDL cholesterol. It helps clear cholesterol from the blood by removing cholesterol from organs and tissues to be destroyed by the liver.
Apolipoprotein B Apolipoprotein B, or ApoB is the primary apolipoprotein of low-density lipoproteins (LDL or bad cholesterol). It is responsible for carrying cholesterol to tissues.
Lipoprotein A Lipoproteins transport cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Lipoprotein(a) which is also known as Lp(a) is a risk factor for heart disease especially when LDL cholesterol is also raised. Lp(a) can accelerate the development of plaques forming in the arteries, which narrow and harden the arteries. The concentration of Lp(a) within the blood is genetically determined and will remain fairly constant in an individual over their lifetime.
Lp - PLA2 The enzyme lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) plays a role in the inflammation of blood vessels, promoting the build up of plaque in the coronary arteries. Lp-PLA2 is a risk marker for cardiovascular disease and because it is produced in the plaque itself, Lp-PLA2 is thought to be more sensitive at assessing cardiovascular disease risk than traditional inflammatory markers, such as CRP.
hs - CRP C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is an inflammation marker used to assess whether there is inflammation in the body - it does not identify where the inflammation is located. High Sensitivity CRP (CRP-hs) is a test used to detect low-level inflammation thought to damage blood vessels which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. When you suffer a serious injury or infection you experience significant inflammation around the site of injury - such as the swelling around a twisted ankle. Any injury like this will cause your CRP-hs to rise.

How to prepare
for your test

Special Instructions

Prepare for your Advanced Heart Disease Risk Blood Test by following these instructions. Take this test when any symptoms of short-term illness have settled. Do not eat for 12 hours prior to your test. Drink plenty of water, if you take medication then you are allowed to take it as you would normally.