We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Simple Blood Sample Could Identify Epigenetic Biomarkers to Predict CVD Risk in Type 2 Diabetes

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 08 Aug 2025

People with type 2 diabetes face up to four times higher risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes, and angina compared to individuals without the condition. More...

Yet, current tools used in healthcare to estimate cardiovascular risk rely on clinical variables that can be imprecise. Now, a new study has identified blood-based biomarkers that significantly improve the prediction of future cardiovascular disease in this population.

A research team led by Lund University (Lund, Sweden) conducted the study, which focused on DNA methylation as a way to detect epigenetic biomarkers in blood. Researchers tracked 752 newly diagnosed individuals from the diabetes cohort ANDIS (All New Diabetics in Skåne) who had no prior cardiovascular disease. Over 7 years, the researchers followed participants' cardiovascular health and studied chemical changes in their genomes.

The team discovered over 400 sites in the blood where DNA methylation was altered. Of these, 87 sites were used to create a scoring system that assesses individual risk for cardiovascular complications. The test showed a strong negative predictive value, with 96% accuracy in identifying those unlikely to develop heart disease.

These findings, published in Cell Reports Medicine, could transform how clinicians identify at-risk patients. Individuals flagged as high risk could receive earlier support in areas such as diet, exercise, weight control, blood sugar management, and cardiovascular protection. The researchers now aim to develop a clinical kit that allows DNA methylation to be measured through a simple blood sample.

"Healthcare today uses clinical variables such as age, gender, blood pressure, smoking, harmful cholesterol, long-term blood sugar, and kidney function to estimate the risk of future cardiovascular disease, but it is a rather blunt tool. If you add DNA methylation, you have a much better measure of future risk," said Charlotte Ling, senior author of the study. “We therefore want to develop a kit for clinical use, so that a simple blood sample can measure DNA methylation and predict who is at risk of becoming ill using the scoring scale.”

Related Links:
Lund University


Gold Member
Flocked Fiber Swabs
Puritan® Patented HydraFlock®
POC Helicobacter Pylori Test Kit
Hepy Urease Test
New
Gold Member
Cardiovascular Risk Test
Metabolic Syndrome Array I & II
New
Autoimmune Liver Diseases Assay
Microblot-Array Liver Profile Kit
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: The microfluidic device for passive separation of platelet-rich plasma from whole blood (Photo courtesy of University of the Basque Country)

Portable and Disposable Device Obtains Platelet-Rich Plasma Without Complex Equipment

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) plays a crucial role in regenerative medicine due to its ability to accelerate healing and repair tissue. However, obtaining PRP traditionally requires expensive centrifugation... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: An innovative deep learning model can accurately predict MSI tumor and immune checkpoint inhibitor responsiveness (Photo courtesy of Jae-Ho Cheong/Yonsei University College of Medicine)

AI Model Accurately Predicts MSI Tumor and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Responsiveness

One in three people is expected to develop cancer in their lifetime, and a key factor in patient prognosis is the tumor’s microsatellite status—whether it is stable or shows microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H).... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: The acquisition of Exosome Diagnostics adds the ExoDx Prostate test to Mdxhealth’s portfolio (Photo courtesy of Bio-Techne)

Bio-Techne Divests Exosome Diagnostics to Reposition Product Portfolio

Bio-Techne Corporation (Minneapolis, MN, USA) has entered into an agreement with Mdxhealth SA (Irvine, CA, USA), which will acquire its Exosome Diagnostics Inc. (Waltham, MA, US) business, including the... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.