A new study suggests that a routine blood test could help identify heart attack patients at the highest risk of dying within the first 30 days. Researchers found that severe heart attacks trigger the release of immature neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, from the bone marrow into the bloodstream. Higher levels of these immature granulocytes (IGs) were strongly linked to poorer survival and outperformed several established risk markers. Because IG levels can be measured using a standard blood count available in most hospitals, this approach could help doctors quickly identify high-risk patients for closer monitoring. However, larger studies are still needed before the test becomes part of routine clinical care.
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