CVD & Diabetes Prevention Comprehensive

This test is one of Boston Heart's 2 curated profiles for prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type-2 diabetes, or complication of these conditions. These profiles are excellent for monitoring patients with obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, or diabetes. Such patients are at a 2 to 4 times higher risk for CVD than patients without these conditions.

Cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and obesity are widespread and very common among patients. These lifestyle diseases are largely preventable, treatable, and reversible. The right combination of blood tests can unmask and monitor risk for serious health problems including premature death and dramatically reduced quality of life.

Routine lipid testing is insufficient to identify and monitor patients at risk adequately. Small Dense LDL-C, apoB, Lp(a), cholesterol production and absorption, fatty acids and HDL metabolism are all important for uncovering and treating hidden risk.

Obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, and type-2 diabetes are widespread epidemics. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with these conditions. Monitoring glucose and HbA1c are crucially important for prevention, early identification, treatment, and reversal of type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk. These profiles go a step further by evaluating insulin levels, calculated insulin resistance & sensitivity, calculated beta cell activity, and the Boston Heart Beta Cell Function and Risk Index™. Together these tests can evaluate the potential role of specific therapies to address insulin resistance and/or beta cell dysfunction.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease which affects all patients with diabetes. After ruling out other causes of inflammation, C-reactive protein (CRP) is a strong independent predictor of CVD. Lowering CRP with statins in patients with normal LDL-C reduces CVD events. LpPLA2 measures inflammation specific to oxidized cholesterol plaque in the artery wall and reflects overall atherosclerotic burden. Oxidized phospholipid on apoB particles (OxPL-apoB) is highly pro-inflammatory and levels can be used to reclassify patients into higher or lower risk categories allowing for better personalized care. Inflammation can be reduced by treating the underlying causes including abnormal lipids, glucose, blood pressure, smoking, processed food and low physical activity. Furthermore, randomized trials indicate that patients with diabetes who have increased oxidation due to the haptoglobin variant Hp2/2 reduce CVD risk with natural vitamin E supplementation.

Electrolytes, kidney function, liver function and other measures of normal metabolic activity are valuable tools for health assessment and patient management. Homocysteine, uric acid, and vitamin D are each associated with CVD risk and can be improved with healthy lifestyle choices. When deficiencies are detected, it is important to understand the underlying cause to determine whether supplementation is appropriate to normalize levels.

Freeze the provided ice packs for 24 hours before your blood draw.

Fast for 8-12 hours before your blood draw. You may drink only water, black coffee, or tea without dairy or sugar.

Hydrate before your blood draw.