Precision Medicine in Cardiology: The Role of Genomics and AI to optimize Coronary Artery Disease Treatment and Prevention
– Dr. Peter Kozlowski, MD
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 75% of premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) (1) is preventable… A shocking study (2) published on June 4th, 2024 said (2); “At least 6 in 10 U.S. adults (61%), more than 184 million people, are expected to have some type of CVD within the next 30 years, reflecting a disease prevalence that will have a $1.8 trillion price tag in direct and indirect costs.” Are we doing enough for our patients?
Coronary artery disease is frequently referred to as a “silent killer” as it can damage the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular events without causing noticeable symptoms until serious complications arise. My role as a primary care physician was to provide regular medical check-ups and screenings to identify coronary artery disease at early stages to prevent cardiovascular complications. Per the American Academy of Family Practice (AAFP) U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) (3), they recommend screening men 35 years and women 45 years and older and older for lipid disorders. By screening, they mean a serum Lipid Panel, as they state there is good evidence (4) that high levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are important risk factors for CVD. And they also recommend prescribing a statin for the primary prevention of CVD for adults aged 40 to 75 years who have 1 or more CVD risk factors (i.e., dyslipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, or smoking) and an estimated 10-year risk of a cardiovascular event of 10% or greater. Pretty simple, but I did not come out of Family Practice Residency with a lot of tools in my tool belt.
Thanks to my mentors and training from the Institute of Functional Medicine I was taught to use advanced coronary markers;
For more information about Dr. Peter Kozlowski and his most recent books, “Unfunc Your Gut” and “Get the Func Out,” please click here.
