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Jai Health is gearing up to unveil the first genomics-based risk estimation solution for heart disease. The novel test estimates an individual’s susceptibility to developing heart disease facilitating more targeted screening, earlier intervention and prevention. The product: ‘JaiHeart’ will be made available by this September.
Jai Heart analyses DNA from saliva/cheek cells to look for genetic variations associated with heart disease. This is integrated with the client’s medical history and conventional risk factors provided online at registration at its website ‘jaihealth.com’
A detailed personalized report is produced that estimates the risk of developing heart disease. It highlights individual risk factors and outlines what the client can do to prevent heart disease. Importantly the use of genomics in this test can give a signal of risk long before heart disease becomes symptomatic which will help the doctors initiate the necessary lifestyle changes, further investigations and medical interventions to reduce the risk of a heart attack. “The product has undergone extensive clinical trials and studies. The product development took around three years,” Dr Sanjay, Kakkar, chairman and founder Jai Health told Pharmabiz in an interaction.
While there are similar products available in the West, we have developed India’s first genomic based test specifically for Indian, South East Asian and Middle Eastern populations and will be launching it here at a competitive price, he added.
The process of sourcing the JaiHeart is straightforward and following online registration the client receives a kit via courier containing a saliva/cheek cell collection tube which is simple, non-invasive and easy to use. The kit is then posted back to Jai Health for analysis at its state-of-the art laboratories. The client is informed electronically when the report is ready to be viewed and downloaded on 'jaihealth.com'. The service is also provided through doctors, diagnostic laboratories and hospitals.
Indians have a higher genetic predisposition to heart disease, affecting people at a younger age. Almost 25 per cent of heart attacks are under 40 years with greater severity and higher mortality than the West. Indians are four times more likely to have a heart attack.
In India, heart disease is an epidemic accounting for around three million deaths annually and affecting 12 per cent of the population. Conventional health checks like cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, ECG are not detecting heart disease risk adequately with over half of cases admitted to hospital for heart attacks having normal cholesterol and blood pressure. Only 50 per cent of heart disease risk is associated with high cholesterol or any of six additional classic risk factors. Current routine tests on their own are not identifying the many people at risk for heart attacks.
“Heart disease arises as a result of the combination of genetic, environmental and lifestyle risk factors. The company’s objective has been to look heart disease risk in a comprehensive and detailed manner,” stated Dr Kakkar.
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