Study claims mammograms can be used to identify women at increased risk of developing heart disease
- The scientists analyzed both health data and scans of 5,000 California women.
- Women with calcification of the mammary arteries are 51% more likely to suffer from heart disease.
- The authors hope that the scan will help identify women at risk of cardiovascular disease.
The study found that breast cancer screening can be used to identify women at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Mammograms can reveal a buildup of calcium in the breast, which can signal hardening of the arteries.
Experts from Kaiser Permanente’s research division in Northern California say the finding, which appears as a white area on x-rays, suggests the woman has “poor heart health.”
An analysis of thousands of women found that those with mammary artery calcification are known to be 51% more likely to develop heart disease.
Study author Dr. Carlos Iribarren, who reported on his condition after a check-up, may help women take early action to reduce their risk of heart disease.
He said: “This is not currently the standard of care for mammary artery calcification seen on mammograms.
“Some radiologists include this information in their mammogram reports, but this is not required.”
Scientists hope that information about mammary artery calcification, which is easy to identify with routine mammography, can be collected regularly to help identify women at risk for heart disease or stroke.
Coronary artery disease (CHD) clogs the blood vessels and can lead to angina, strokes, or heart attacks.
Coronary artery disease occurs when the main blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart are damaged.
IHD affects over 1.6 million men and one million women in the UK and a total of 15 million adults in the US.
This is usually due to plaque and inflammation.
When plaque builds up, it narrows the arteries, which reduces blood flow to the heart.
Over time, this can cause angina pectoris, and a complete blockage can lead to a heart attack.
Many people don’t have any symptoms at first, but as the plaque builds up, they may notice chest pain or shortness of breath during exercise or stress.
Other causes of CAD include smoking, diabetes, and a sedentary lifestyle.
It can be prevented by quitting smoking, controlling conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, staying active, eating right, and managing stress.
Medications can help lower cholesterol levels, and aspirin thins the blood, reducing the risk of blood clots.
In severe cases, stents may be placed in the arteries to open them, and in coronary artery bypass surgery, a graft is created to bypass blocked arteries using a vessel from another part of the body.
Source: Mayo Clinic.
Currently, all women aged 50 to 71 who are registered with a general practitioner receive an invitation for a mammogram every three years. Similar rules exist in the US.
However, they are asked to attend more frequent appointments if they have a family history of breast cancer or a genetic risk.
The program aims to detect cancer at its earliest stages, before lumps can be felt and when there is a greater chance of a cure.
The researchers analyzed the mammogram results of 5,000 Californian women who had at least one mammogram screening between 2012 and 2015.
The authors then compared the results with the women’s medical records six and a half years after the scan.
The results were published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovasus Imaging.
Commenting on the study, Dr. Sadia Khan, a cardiology expert at Northwestern University in Chicago, said finding breast artery calcification on scans could help clinicians encourage women to improve their heart health.
She said: “This type of calcification can indicate poor heart health.
“Physicians can use this opportunity to discuss ways to optimize heart health, such as engaging in regular physical activity, eating a high-quality diet, and maintaining a healthy weight.”
However, she added that it is crucial to remember that the absence of calcification of the mammary arteries does not mean that women are at low risk of heart disease.
Women have historically suffered worse from heart attacks than men in the UK.
A BHF study published in 2019 found that women who have had a heart attack are 50% more likely than men to be initially misdiagnosed.
Part of this gender disparity is believed to be due to the fact that heart disease is seen as a male problem.
About 800,000 British women suffer from coronary heart disease, narrowing of the arteries due to fatty deposits – the main cause of heart attacks.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for American women, with almost 300,000 deaths in 2017 alone, accounting for a fifth of all female deaths.