Exploring the Potential of CRISPR-Cas9 in the Genetic Modification of Cardiac Cells for Heart Disease Treatment

This study explores the potential of CRISPR-Cas9 technology in the genetic modification of cardiac cells for the treatment of heart diseases, specifically those caused by genetic mutations such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). A quantitative research design was adopted, utilizing a probability sampling technique with a sample size of 110 healthcare professionals, including cardiologists, geneticists, medical researchers, and general physicians from Punjab, Pakistan. The study investigates the awareness of CRISPR-Cas9, its perceived usefulness, and the attitudes of healthcare professionals toward its application in treating genetic heart diseases. Data were analyzed using demographic analysis, correlation analysis, chi-square tests, and regression analysis to assess the relationships between variables. The findings indicate a strong positive correlation between awareness of CRISPR-Cas9 and favorable attitudes toward its application, with perceived usefulness emerging as a key predictor of positive attitudes. However, challenges such as delivery methods, off-target effects, and the long-term safety of CRISPR-based therapies in cardiac cells remain significant obstacles. This study provides valuable insights into the adoption of CRISPR-Cas9 in cardiovascular medicine and underscores the need for further research to address technical and ethical concerns. The results suggest that CRISPR-Cas9 holds great promise for revolutionizing the treatment of genetic heart diseases but requires more development before becoming a mainstream clinical tool.