According to the CDC, one person dies every 36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. This equates to about 659,000 people each year—that’s 1 in every 4 deaths. The loss of life is tragic, and the costs are staggering. Heart disease costs the United States about $363 billion which includes the cost of health care services, medicines, and lost productivity due to death.
Many of us know someone who suffers from heart disease. We might know someone who’s suffered a heart attack or even heart failure. As we shine a light on Heart Health Month, now is a time when everyone should assess their cardiovascular health. The Cleveland Clinic recently reported that the pandemic has been taking a toll on Americans’ hearts — even those who’ve never had COVID-19 — with 41% reporting they have experienced at least one cardiac-related issue since March 2020.
For BioIQ, heart health is a priority year-round, not just the month of February. High blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. About half of Americans (47%) have at least one of these three risk factors.
BioIQ’s Heart Health panel enables health plans and employers a convenient, at-home test for member populations or employees to track their heart health no matter the time of year. The panel is made up of three tests, which can all be completed from the comfort of your home, with a single finger prick, that can help identify increased risk for dangerous heart conditions. The panel includes:
- The Hemoglobin A1c test is used to measure a person’s average blood sugar over the past 3 months. Elevated levels are associated with higher blood sugar levels and can be used to screen for pre-diabetes and diabetes.
- The Lipid Panel tests blood fats like cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglycerides and can be used to determine risk for heart attacks and stroke.
- The Highly Sensitive C Reactive Protein (HS-CRP) test measures C-Reactive protein and aids in evaluation of stress, trauma, infection, and inflammation.
The leading preventable risk factors for heart disease and stroke are high blood pressure, high LDL (bad) cholesterol, smoking, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. This comprehensive panel can help identify these unseen risks, giving a better picture of overall heart health and potentially saving lives.
BioIQ is changing the way health measurement works, by making diagnostic testing more affordable and accessible for employers, health plans and government entities. This is done by creating more insight for people and more touch points with health service partners.
For information about our Heart Health Panel and how BioIQ can partner with you, click here.