Cardiovascular Biomarkers Must Lead to Better Care, Experts Urge

ADVANCES in cardiovascular diagnostics will have limited impact unless abnormal results lead to clear treatment decisions and sustained follow-up, experts argued during a panel discussion on translating biomarkers into better outcomes.

Speakers identified fragmented care as a major obstacle to prevention, warning that patients can undergo appropriate testing without anyone taking clear responsibility for acting on the findings.

Closing the Gap Between Testing and Treatment

The panel described gaps between primary care, cardiology, and other specialties, particularly around who should initiate treatment, reassess risk factors, and intensify therapy when needed.

These problems can affect both people undergoing primary prevention assessments and patients with established cardiovascular disease. Speakers argued that healthcare systems need clearer pathways connecting risk identification with clinical action.

Integrated care pathways were presented as one potential solution. These would define responsibilities across the patient journey, establish follow-up arrangements, and allow teams to assess whether care is achieving its intended outcomes.

Panellists stressed that pathway development should involve nurses, administrative teams, and other staff alongside physicians. Regular review would also be needed to identify gaps and improve delivery.

Making Better Use of Existing Risk Information

Alongside newer technologies, speakers emphasised the value of established assessments, including blood pressure measurement, lipid testing, diabetes assessment, and smoking history.

The discussion highlighted the distinction between identifying risk and having a treatment directed specifically at an individual biomarker. Lipoprotein(a) was discussed as an example of information that can influence overall risk assessment, management of other modifiable risk factors, and consideration of family screening.

Panellists also cautioned that an association with cardiovascular events is insufficient, by itself, to establish a new biomarker’s clinical usefulness. Additional information must meaningfully improve assessment or decision-making to justify its integration into routine care.

Imaging and AI Could Support Earlier Intervention

Cardiovascular imaging was discussed as a way to identify disease before symptoms develop and help patients understand their risk. Speakers suggested that showing patients evidence of disease could support conversations about preventive treatment and behavioural change.

Artificial intelligence (AI) could also help clinicians combine information from imaging, laboratory tests, and medical records to identify people who warrant further assessment. One example discussed was using existing CT scans to identify coronary calcification and bring selected patients back for clinical review.

However, panellists acknowledged challenges around applying AI across different populations and healthcare settings. They emphasised that clinical interpretation and human judgement remain essential.

The discussion’s central message was that earlier detection must be accompanied by a reliable route to treatment. Better diagnostics, clearer clinical responsibility, and coordinated follow-up will need to advance together to improve cardiovascular prevention.

Reference

From biomarkers to better outcomes: breakthroughs in diagnostics [panel discussion]. Presented at: The Economist Cardiovascular Health Summit 2026; 04 Nov 2026; London, UK.