Lay summary
Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in New Zealand. This disease is highly complex and has a substantial component of inflammatory dysfunction. It is without doubt that earlier identification of cardiovascular risk is needed for effective prevention and in disease management to lessen its burden. Very recently, a blood marker known as soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), has been suggested to be important in the regulation of low grade chronic inflammation in heart disease related processes such as in arterial plaque vulnerability. Thus, my research aims to determine if suPAR concentrations are altered in patients with cardiovascular disease and whether it can be used as a biological marker to aid in predicting those who are at greatest risk of adverse outcomes.