Call for action: Clinical opportunity to prevent heart attacks, strokes

The American College of Cardiology has recommended universal screenings to detect inflammation after linking it atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

In a Scientific Statement from the ACC published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, investigators examined the outcomes of more than 30,000 patients receiving statins across multiple trials.

The investigators discovered that compared with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were more predictive of recurrent myocardial infarction, stroke and mortality. Further, patients who experienced myocardial infarctions and received anti-inflammatory agents were less likely to experience major adverse cardiovascular events, irrespective of changes in LDL cholesterol levels.

As a result, the investigators indicated that measuring inflammation may prove effective in primary and secondary prevention. They hope their findings can raise awareness among clinicians of the role inflammation plays in the risk of myocardial infarctions, strokes and cardiovascular-related mortality.

Read more: JACC

The article presented here is intended to inform you about the broader media perspective on dentistry, regardless of its alignment with the ADA's stance. It is important to note that publication of an article does not imply the ADA's endorsement, agreement, or promotion of its content.