The Mighty Mammogram: Detecting Heart Disease?

Posted March 13, 2008 at 06:00 PM by Kathleen Blanchard

Section: Her Health, Her News

According to a recent study, mammography may provide valuable information about cardiovascular disease in women. Recent research shows that women who had breast arterial calcifications (BACs) were twice as likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease. Even in younger women, breast arterial calcifications seem to indicate the presence or risk of developing atherosclerosis.

There are no official recommendations for routine breast arterial calcification screening until further studies are done. According to researchers Dr Michelle A Rotter (University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington and colleagues: “The goal of the follow-up study is to determine the percentage of women with BACs without CAD during the initial survey who later develop CAD and/or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”

In the current study, 1919 women completed questionnaires, consented to independent review of their mammograms, and were then assessed for coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors. The prevalence of CAD was 14%, or 268 women. Even when known risk factors were considered, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking and atherosclerotic heart disease, the association between breast arterial calcification and cardiovascular disease events was strong, even in younger women.

Dr. Rotter states: “These data collectively suggest that BACs may not merely be an age-related phenomenon. Given the significant difference even in younger women, BACs may have utility as a cardiovascular disease risk indicator, including in younger women who may yet not have manifested CAD.

Breast arterial calcifications are not routinely reported on mammogram screening, but are quite common. Women should recognize the need for cholesterol, blood pressure and diabetes screening if mammography reports do reveal the presence of breast arterial calcification. In the future, mammography may prove to be a very effective tool for predicting cardiovascular disease in women. Early intervention and risk factor modification can greatly reduce the development and progression of cardiovascular disease events.

This is good news, and well worth following. If we knew our mammograms could yield even more information about our health – well what a bargain that would be…and we do love a bargain.

Kathleen is a Registered Nurse. For more Health news and information, please visit her blog.