A 40 minute test for angina could help patients avoid an overnight stay in hospital, according to research funded by the NIHR Guy’s and St Thomas’ Biomedical Research Centre. The MR-INFORM trial looked at whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be used to guide treatment decisions for angina patients, rather than performing a more invasive procedure. Angina is chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscles. The condition affects two million people in the UK and is a warning sign that you could be at risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Treatments include drugs to lessen the pain and changes to a healthier lifestyle. Currently patients diagnosed with the condition are usually sent for an invasive angiography, a procedure which involves taking X-rays of the patient’s arteries, and involves multiple hospital visits, including an overnight stay. If the condition is severe,…
