Study of 95,000 MDVIP Patients Confirms Better Screening Tool to Identify Cardiovascular Risk

The impressive findings of a peer-reviewed collaboration between MDVIP and Cleveland HeartLab were as striking as the study process itself utilizing one of the largest patient screening data sets of its kind. Based on results from laboratory panels of more than 95,000 MDVIP patients, researchers were able to identify heightened cardiovascular risk among patients who otherwise showed no risk on the standard lipid (cholesterol) panels often performed in traditional primary care doctors’ offices.

This is particularly relevant considering at least 50% of patients who suffer heart attacks have "normal" cholesterol levels. Use of such testing could revolutionize the role of health screenings in preventive medicine.

The study – "Multimarker Approach for Identifying and Documenting Mitigation of Cardiovascular Risk" published in Future Cardiology – was conducted by MDVIP Medical Director Dr. Andrea Klemes, working jointly with Dr. Marc Penn, Chief Medical Officer of Cleveland HeartLab (CHL). 

The researchers found that basic lipid panels identified cardiovascular risk in some 30% of patients. Using the MDVIP/CHL multimarker approach, 70% of the patients were identified with some risk, or about 40% more than would have been identified with cholesterol testing alone.

With such tests, health risks can be identified earlier. Simple solutions – like diet and exercise – can be used before expensive medications. Earlier intervention can reduce the chance or severity of illness.

Since 2011, MDVIP patients have received as part of their routine wellness program a comprehensive screening lab panel. Doctors in the program can now personalize the testing based on patients’ individual needs to prevent conditions like diabetes and heart disease. What’s more, the ability to aggregate MDVIP’s subject base of more than 200,000 patients means more broad studies may reveal ways to further improve healthcare delivery in the future.

“In MDVIP’s practice model, our physicians use the most appropriate predictive tools to perform preventive, not reactive, care allowing them to more actively and aggressively treat cases and mitigate the risk,” Dr. Klemes says. “This is the hallmark of a premier, personalized preventive medicine program. Yet, if traditional doctors’ offices were to employ this multimarker approach, society would realize improved benefits and reduced risks.”