Blood Tests Supporting the Prevention of Circulatory Diseases

For over five decades, cardiovascular diseases have remained the leading cause of mortality in the Polish population. A comprehensive diagnostic evaluation in this domain facilitates a thorough assessment of circulatory system performance, coagulation status, and potential lipid metabolism disorders. Individual laboratory and functional tests are designed to identify risks associated with coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, arterial hypertension, and thromboembolic or atherosclerotic complications. The arterial blood pressure—a critical parameter in this assessment—represents the force exerted by blood against arterial walls during the cardiac cycle.

A lipid profile represents an advanced diagnostic examination designed to meticulously evaluate the concentrations of total cholesterol and its distinct fractions—low-density lipoprotein (LDL, colloquially referred to as "bad cholesterol") and high-density lipoprotein (HDL, commonly known as "good cholesterol")—alongside serum triglyceride levels. To ensure the highest possible accuracy of test results, blood sampling should be conducted following a 9–12-hour fasting period, thereby mitigating the influence of recent food intake on metabolic parameters. The reference range for total cholesterol spans 150–200 mg/dL (3.9–5.2 mmol/L). Values exceeding this threshold may indicate an elevated risk of developing metabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, or hypothyroidism. It is critical to emphasize that cholesterol fulfills indispensable physiological roles: it serves as a fundamental component of cell membranes, acts as a precursor for the synthesis of steroid hormones (such as cortisol, aldosterone, and sex hormones), and contributes to bile acid production. Consequently, its complete dietary elimination would not only be unwarranted but potentially detrimental to overall health.

Homocysteine is an organic amino acid chemical that can cause atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke and other diseases of the circulatory system because it has a very negative effect on blood vessels that become less elastic. The norm for homocystine in the blood is 515 μmol/l. Excessive values are called hyperhomocysteines and can be caused, among other things: genetically modified genes, improper diet, poor vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid, chemicals, various diseases such as leukaemia, ovarian cancer, dysfunction, hyperhidrosis and polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Glucose, a fundamental monosaccharide, serves as the primary energy substrate for human cellular metabolism. Its concentration in the bloodstream is measured in the morning following an overnight fast of at least eight hours. Reference values typically range between 70 and 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). Deviations from this normative interval may indicate metabolic disorders: elevated levels (hyperglycemia) are commonly associated with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and may also occur post-consumption of foods rich in rapidly absorbable carbohydrates or as an adverse effect of certain pharmacological agents. Conversely, diminished levels (hypoglycemia) may result from excessive physical exertion, inadequate nutritional intake, or endocrine dysfunctions. Prolonged hyperglycemia accelerates the progression of atherosclerotic lesions within the vascular system, thereby substantially elevating the risk of cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarctions and cerebrovascular accidents. Furthermore, elevated blood glucose concentrations enhance blood coagulability, thereby increasing thrombotic susceptibility.

Cardiovascular biomarkers, also referred to as cardiac markers, constitute a specialized group of proteins and enzymes whose blood concentrations rise significantly in response to acute or chronic injury to myocardial tissue. The primary markers in this category include high-sensitivity cardiac troponins T and I (hs-cTnT and hs-cTnI), the cardiac-specific isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB), and myoglobin, an oxygen-binding protein found in muscle tissue. These biomarkers serve not only to confirm the diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes—including ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI)—but also to assess disease progression and stratify the risk of cardiovascular complications in both the short and long term. The serum levels of these markers exhibit dynamic fluctuations depending on the extent and duration of myocardial damage, enabling their use in both the acute phase—as a confirmatory diagnostic tool—and in the subacute and chronic phases, where they assist in monitoring therapeutic efficacy and potential disease progression. These tests are particularly valuable in differentiating the causes of chest pain, diagnosing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and evaluating risk in patients with predisposing factors for atherosclerosis. Within the framework of comprehensive cardiac diagnostics, alongside blood pressure measurement—which can be performed independently using certified sphygmomanometers—a series of laboratory tests are essential. These include a complete lipid profile (encompassing LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides), homocysteine level assessment—a sulfur-containing amino acid correlated with atherosclerosis risk—and fasting blood glucose measurement, which may indicate coexisting diabetes mellitus or prediabetes. Although most of these tests require blood sampling by qualified medical personnel, their cost remains relatively low, averaging less than 40 USD per individual assay. Given the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in the general population, the regular performance of screening tests—recommended approximately every five years for asymptomatic individuals and more frequently for those with risk factors—represents a critical component of primary and secondary prevention. Systematic evaluation of cardiovascular parameters can facilitate the early detection of disorders, thereby enabling the implementation of appropriate therapeutic interventions and reducing morbidity and mortality associated with cardiac conditions.