A CHEAP and common test could help pinpoint patients with high blood pressure who are at increased risk of dying from the condition.
Scientists at Glasgow University discovered that patients with very high and very low levels of red blood cells were more at risk of early death.
The scientists said the new research suggests that haematocrit – the ratio of the volume of red blood cells to the total volume of blood – in a simple full blood count could be used identify the risk of a patient dying at an earlier age.
Dr Sandosh Padmanabhan, reader in the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, said finding new markers that predict disease in this way was the "holy grail" for medical researchers.
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