LifeMap
Chief Investigator: Professor Andre Ng
Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) is responsible for over 3 million deaths worldwide every year. The majority of these are due to serious heart rhythm problems, which could be managed with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). However, it can be difficult to identify appropriate people for ICDs due to the current way of assessing someone’s risk of these heart rhythm problems. Therefore, many people whose lives could have been saved with ICDs, do not receive them. Additionally some people who do receive ICDs never need them. 60% of ICD recipients never use them, many people whose lives could have been saved with ICDs, do not receive them because they are deemed ‘low-risk’.
LifeMap is an innovative risk stratification technology that allows for a more accurate assessment of a person’s risk of serious heart rhythm disturbance. We have developed two novel ECG risk markers which have shown a high positive predictive value (80%) of SCD and ventricular arrhythmia events. A LifeMap test on someone who has had a heart attack could lead to appropriate protection with an ICD. LifeMap is being developed to work using an ECG recorder during exercise.
LifeMap is currently supported by a MRC DPFS grant for translating laborious research technique into an effective clinical tool. The product is currently being developed, including automated software with user interface and customised proprietary modules which will produce LifeMap markers acquired during pacing or exercise.
For more information email: Michelle.newton@leicester.ac.uk