Routine breast screening could detect cardiovascular disease

Mammograms may help predict cardiovascular risk among women.

In a retrospective cohort study published in JACC: Advances, investigators analyzed the data of 18,092 women aged 40 to 90 years who underwent routine screening mammograms between 2007 and 2016. They examined the participants’ breast arterial calcification.

The investigators noted that breast arterial calcification was present in just less than 25% of the women and was more prevalent among those who were older, Black and Hispanic; those with diabetes, hypertension and a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or chronic kidney disease as well as those receiving statins and/or antihypertensive medications.

Further, the women with breast arterial calcification were at an increased risk of experiencing all-cause mortality or a composite of adverse cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes and heart failure.

The findings may help improve cardiovascular disease risk stratification.

Read more: JACC: Advances

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