Mammography: tool for detecting cardiovascular disease?

Article

The presence of breast vascular calcifications on routine screening mammography increases the risk of coronary artery disease by 32%, the risk of ischemic stroke by 41%, and threat of risk of heart failure by 52%, according to a cohort study of almost 13,000 women between the ages of 40 and 79. No significant relationships were found with transient ischemic attacks or hemorrhagic stroke.

Breast vascular calcification was present in about 3% of the women studied. The increased risks were tallied after adjustment for age, education level, race, cigarette smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, serum total cholesterol, hypertension, diabetes, parental history of myocardial infarction, parity, and hormone replacement therapy.

The researchers concluded that because mammography is relatively inexpensive and is recommended yearly after age 40 anyway, it may prove to be a useful adjunctive tool in the prediction of cardiovascular disease risk.

Iribarren C, Go AS, Tolstykh I, et al. Breast vascular calcification and risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. J Women's Health. 2004;13:381-389.

Recent Videos
Devon Ramaeker, MD
Elizabeth Gandee, APRN-CNP, highlights gaps in women's menopause knowledge | Image Credit: wexnermedical.osu.edu
Doula highlights how postpartum care is failing new mothers | Image Credit: linkedin.com
Nicky Herrick MD; and Anushree Agarwal, MD, MBBS, highlight their study on cardiac arrhythmias in pregnancy | Image Credit: © Igor Borodin - stock.adobe.com.
Lisa Becht, MD, FACOG, sheds light on fertility awareness | Image Credit: havingbabies.com.
First US national HPV conference highlights advances in cancer prevention | Image Credit: uchealth.com.
Mitchell Creinin, MD, reports estetrol pill eases menstrual symptoms | Image Credit: health.ucdavis.edu
1 expert is featured in this series.
Susanna Mitro, PhD, reveals ethnic disparities in uterine fibroid diagnosis | Image Credit: divisionofresearch.kaiserpermanente.org.
Shayna Mancuso, DO, highlights the real impact of menopause | Image Credit: linkedin.com.
Related Content
© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.