THE ESSENTIAL
- A new study reveals that heart shape, influenced by genetic factors, could become a key indicator of cardiovascular disease risk.
- Thanks to the analysis of 3D MRI scans of more than 40,000 participants, the researchers identified 11 dimensions describing the main variations in the shape of the heart and 45 associated genomic regions, including 14 previously unpublished.
- This innovative approach, which complements traditional size and volume measurements, could improve early and personalized risk detection.
An international study, published in the journal Nature Communicationsreveals that the shape of the heart, influenced by genetic factors, could play a key role in assessing the risks of cardiovascular diseases. This work, carried out by researchers from several British institutions, including Queen Mary University and King’s College London, offers new insights into heart health and its prevention.
A new approach thanks to 3D imaging
Unlike previous studies, which focused on the size and volume of heart chambers, this research explored the shape of the right and left ventricles using 3D MRI scans of hearts. These data, from more than 40,000 participants in the UK Biobank, made it possible to identify “eleven shape dimensions describing the main variations in heart shape”.
Using artificial intelligence and machine learning, researchers discovered 45 regions of the genome associated with these specific forms, 14 of which were previously unknown. “These results show how genetics influence heart structure and provide a new method for predicting individual cardiovascular disease risks earlier and more accurately.”explains Dr. Richard Burns, genetic statistician, in a press release.
This is not the first time that a study has highlighted the influence of the shape of the heart on the appearance of heart disease: in 2023, researchers demonstrated that a slight increase in the sphericity of the left ventricle – in other words increased roundness of the heart – could increase the risk of developing cardiomyopathy, atrial fibrillation or heart failure by 47%. “It’s a marker for people at high risk”noted the scientists.
Better prevent cardiovascular diseases
While cardiovascular diseases remain one of the main causes of mortality worldwide, this new study opens up new perspectives in terms of cardiology research. According to Professor Patricia Munroe, who participated in the work, “Heart shape analysis adds a new dimension to our understanding of genetic risks, complementing traditional clinical measures”. These advances, still in the exploratory phase, could indeed allow earlier and personalized detection of risks, offering clinicians an additional tool to prevent these pathologies. Which therefore represents great hope for millions of patients around the world.
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