In coronary artery disease, the arteries carrying oxygen-rich blood away from the heart become clogged with fatty plaque. The enzyme ACE 2 has been associated with cardiovascular disease for a decade, but researchers have recently found that the higher the level of circulating ACE2, the greater the risk. As reported in PLOS ONE, scientists followed 79 patients (men and women) with coronary artery disease over ten years, and found 46 percent of them experienced heart attacks, heart failure, or death in that time.
But in those with the highest levels of ACE2, the risk was increased 2.5-fold compared to those with lower levels of ACE2. “While our study was small, we saw the risk of heart attack, heart failure, or death was significantly increased in those with higher levels of ACE2,” says lead author and University of Melbourne professor. “Our study included only people with severe…
