What is Hertta?

Hertta is a new test for prevention of heart disease, and heart health follow up.

Hertta is a blood sample test that measures the risk of cardiovascular events, such as heart attack, and stroke more accurately than commonly used cholesterol tests. Hertta test measures also the risk of getting type 2 diabetes.

One test, two results.

Prevention of heart disease

Most of the heart attacks and strokes are preventable. The earlier the risk is detected, the better the risk can be reduced for example by lifestyle modification.

Healthy lifestyle decreases the risk of developing heart disease and diabetes, and reduces events caused by the diseases. Healthy lifestyle includes regular exercise, avoiding of overweight, no tobacco smoking and healthy diet.

Heart health follow up

Hertta test allows follow up of the risk development. Hertta Risk Score is affected by medication, exercise and healhty diet. If changes to medication or lifestyle are made, the test can be repeated in 3 – 6 months.

Why to do the test?

Half of the persons experiencing heart attacks have normal cholesterol levels and every fifth doesn’t have any known heart disease risk factors.

Hertta test can identify increased heart risk and risk of developing type 2 diabetes early. Hertta test predicts future heart disease and diabetes risk (1-10 years). The earlier the risk is detected, the better the risk can be reduced for example by lifestyle modification.

Who should do the Hertta-test?

Persons with family history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes
Persons having coronary artery disease or diabetes risk factors
Coronary artery patients and persons using cholesterol-lowering medication to determine if they have residual risk despite the treatment
Persons with a general interest in heart health

What if I belong to the high-risk group?

If your cardiovascular risk is elevated, we recommend talking to your doctor. The doctor will evaluate your situation and assess needed actions. Risk can be reduced with lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation, change in diet, increasing physical activity, and reducing stress. Treatment options also include initiation or optimization of drug therapy. On a case-by-case basis, an exercise test or coronary artery imaging may be considered.

Elevated Cardiovascular Risk: If your risk is elevated, meaning CV Risk Score is between 7-9, the risk can be reduced with lifestyle modifications.

High Cardiovascular Risk: If your risk is high, meaning CV Risk Score is between 10-12, the risk can be lowered with lifestyle modifications, and potentially with medical treatment initiation or optimization. Always discuss with your treating doctor any medication changes.

High Diabetes Risk: If your diabetes risk is high, meaning DM Risk Score is between 15-100, the risk can be lowered with lifestyle changes. Healhty lifestyle includes healthy diet, regular exercise, weight control, and non-smoking.

Hertta test has been developed by a Finnish diagnostic company Zora Biosciences Oy.

The test is based on years of high-quality research and development and peer-reviewed science. The test is based on measurement of certain ceramide molecules from a blood sample.