Prospective CTCA & blood biomarkers in South Asians and Caucasians V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A prospective, single centre observational study of Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography (CTCA) and blood parameters in South Asians and Caucasians
IRAS ID
355728
Contact name
Vinoda Sharma
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Aston University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 7 months, 31 days
Research summary
Heart disease is a major cause of death worldwide. Timely and reliable diagnosis of this condition is important prevent serious health consequences. Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography (CTCA) or CT scan of the heart is a non-invasive test that assesses the blockage in heart arteries and is increasingly used as an initial test in patients presenting with chest pain. It allows visualising the heart arteries in three-dimensions and can define the degree (0% blockage = no blockage and 100% blockage =fully blocked) and type of blockage (presence/absence of calcification and high-risk features) within the heart artery. In addition, there is computer generated information within the CT scan software that allows us to calculate the circulation of heart tissue at rest and the blood flow using a technique called Fractional flow reserve (FFR). These additional tests reduce the need for more invasive test such as coronary angiography.
Heart artery blockages are a result of several factors such as raised cholesterol levels, diabetes mellitus, high blood pressure, family history of heart disease and smoking. Some of these risk factors such as cholesterol and blood sugar levels can be measured by routine blood tests that allow us to assess the risk of heart artery blockage and decide on appropriate management. There are a number of new blood markers (e.g. fetuin- A, interleukin 6 etc.) that may also help in assessing risk of heart disease but the relationship between these markers and the degree and type of blockage on seen on CT scan of the heart arteries have not been studied in detail. Understanding this relationship will help us identify individuals who may have heart artery blockages much earlier and help prevent heart disease.
While we know that heart disease can affect people of all ethnicities, there are still differences between ethnic groups both in their susceptibility and severity of the condition. Although we have a better understanding of these differences, there are still many unknowns particularly around how some of the tests described above differ in people of different ethnicities.
In this study, we will examine the relationship of routine and newer blood markers with heart artery blockages and the findings of the CT scan of the heart arteries.REC name
West of Scotland REC 3
REC reference
25/WS/0198
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jan 2026
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion