Cardiovascular Genomics Can Transform Lives

By Barry Sparks heart muscle to become thin and weak. It can lead to heart failure.

Actively watching your diet and ensuring regular exercise are exceptional ways to lessen the risk of heart disease. However, many people aren’t aware that heart disease is also directly connected to genetic factors that further heighten your risk.

In fact, about 40% of heart disease is caused by genetic factors, according to Circulation Research.

WellSpan wants patients to know their risks so they can take steps to lead healthier lives.

WellSpan offers patients a program that includes comprehensive cardiovascular evaluation, genetic counseling, and testing, as well as screening of family members. Based on the results, a WellSpan team of experts can develop a personalized treatment plan for patients that considers their genetic risk for heart disease.

“Cardiovascular genomics can dramatically change outcomes and transform the lives of patients and their family members,” says Dr. C. Anwar Chahal, WellSpan electrophysiologist. “The future is bright and holds promise.”

In 2020, the American Heart Association specifically recommended genetic testing for patients diagnosed with all forms of cardiomyopathy, arrhythmic disorders, vascular disorders, and lipid disorders, so their family members can be armed with the knowledge if they are at risk.

“Most people with inherited heart conditions don’t experience symptoms and don’t know they’re at risk,” says Chahal, the lead content developer for the American Heart Association’s certificate in cardiovascular genomics. “If left undetected and untreated, inherited heart conditions can lead to problems and coronary heart disease, such as heart attacks, sudden cardiac arrest, or heart failure.”

Some common heart diseases that can be inherited include: • Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A disease that thickens part or all of the heart muscle. In extreme cases, it can cause sudden death. • Familial Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A disease that causes the

• Familial Hypercholesterolemia: A disease that causes too much cholesterol to accumulate in your body, especially low-density lipoproteins (LDL), the bad cholesterol. This narrows the arteries, either partially or completely blocking blood flow, which can cause a stroke or heart attack. • Marfan Syndrome: A disease that affects the body’s connective tissue, which plays a role in the body’s growth and development. Dr. C. Anwar Chahal, WellSpan, • Long QT Syndrome: A disease that cardiology, electrophysiologist. causes fast and chaotic heartbeats. WellSpan takes a team approach to cardiovascular genomics. “We have a wonderful team that includes electrophysiology, structural imaging, interventional cardiology, cardiac surgery, a lipid team, rehab, genetic counselors, and nurses,” says Chahal. “We are blessed to have a full complement of experts and subspecialists. We also have a wide range of testing options, such as MRI and CT.” The team identifies signs and symptoms of inherited heart disease, arranges for appropriate cardiac and genetic testing, determines diagnoses, and provides individual treatment plans. After determining the cardiovascular disease, the team focuses on the effects on the patient and their family members. The goal is to prevent hospitalizations, according to Chahal. WellSpan is taking steps to increase the use of cardiovascular genomics, developing a clinical fellowship in the field at WellSpan York Hospital. Medical experts believe technological advances, along with consumer demand, will help increase the use of cardiovascular genomics. Researchers have gained more information on how genetics contributes to cardiovascular disease, and that has led to some exciting developments. “We are using this information to study the effects of known drugs on selected groups of patients and to develop new drugs,” says Chahal. “These new drugs are game changers.”