New way of reading scans can predict heart attack risk, research finds

Researchers says colour of fat surrounding a heart's arteries can predict risk, meaning expensive drugs can be given to those most likely to benefit

Heart attacks may soon be easier to predict thanks to a method of reading routine heart scans that can pinpoint those most at risk, research suggests.

Every year, roughly 750,000 Americans have a heart attack and around half die from it, often before reaching hospital. In the UK, someone has a heart attack every seven minutes. Doctors hope to identify the highest risk patients so they can be given preventative treatment and advised to adopt lifestyle changes.