Health · Public Health & Disease · 2 hrs ago
Free heart amyloidosis screening campaign begins at 50 French hospitals
A free screening campaign for cardiac amyloidosis has begun at 50 hospitals in France.
The rare disease affects about 10,000 people in France and can be life-threatening.
It is difficult to spot because its early signs often affect joints rather than the heart.
Symptoms such as carpal tunnel syndrome, joint problems or gradually worsening hearing can appear five to 10 years before heart damage.
The campaign is aimed especially at people over 50 with these signs, and earlier diagnosis may help protect their health and quality of life.
Treatment is available, but it works by stabilizing the disease, so finding it sooner matters.
The hospitals are offering screening without charge.
A free screening campaign for cardiac amyloidosis began on October 26 at 50 hospitals in France.
The campaign is aimed mainly at people over 50 with signs such as progressive hearing loss, joint problems, carpal tunnel syndrome or hip or knee osteoarthritis.
Amyloidosis affects about 10,000 people in France and can be potentially fatal.
Its early signs often affect the joints rather than the heart, and may appear five to 10 years before heart damage.
Cardiologist Thibault Damy says earlier diagnosis can improve patients’ prognosis and quality of life.
- Who
- The campaign is aimed mainly at people over 50 with certain hearing or joint problems.
- What
- A free screening campaign for cardiac amyloidosis has begun at 50 hospitals.
- When
- October 26, 2026.
- Where
- 50 hospitals in France.
- Why
- Amyloidosis can be potentially fatal, and its early signs may appear outside the heart years before heart damage.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- Hospitals
- 50
- Campaign cost
- Free
- People affected in France
- 10,000
- Target age
- Mainly over 50
- Early signs
- Joint problems may precede heart damage by five to 10 years
What people are saying
Mais ces atteintes rhumatologiques vont survenir cinq à dix ans avant l'atteinte cardiaque. On peut voir l'atteinte avant que le cœur soit totalement transformé en pierre. Et on peut gagner des années puisque les traitements qu'on utilise actuellement sont des stabilisateurs.
Plus on va diagnostiquer les patients tôt, mieux on va améliorer leur pronostic et maintenir leur qualité de vie.
C'est clair que si on améliore cette connaissance auprès des rhumatologues et des orthopédistes, on peut dépister les patients beaucoup plus tôt.
Ce que me disait le docteur, on était juste à temps.