In a groundbreaking study presented today at the European Society of Cardiology Congress and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital have unveiled a new blood test that can predict the risk of heart attacks and strokes in women decades before these events occur. This innovative approach offers women a crucial opportunity to address their cardiovascular risk through lifestyle changes and therapeutics much earlier than previously possible.
The study, which followed 27,939 initially healthy American women over a 30-year period, identified three key biomarkers—low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and lipoprotein(a)—that are highly predictive of future cardiovascular events. This research highlights that elevated levels of these biomarkers can provide early warnings about the likelihood of major cardiovascular issues, potentially decades before the onset of symptoms.
Dr. Julie Buring, principal investigator of the Women’s Health Study, emphasized the importance of these findings, stating, “Waiting until women are in their 60s and 70s to initiate heart attack and stroke prevention is a prescription for failure.” The study underscores the need for earlier intervention and comprehensive screening to prevent cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death among women in the U.S.
The research revealed that women with the highest levels of these biomarkers had significantly increased risks for cardiovascular events:
A 70% greater risk with elevated hsCRP levels
A 36% greater risk with elevated LDL-C levels
A 33% greater risk with elevated lipoprotein(a) levels
Moreover, women with elevated levels of all three markers were found to be 2.6 times more likely to experience a major cardiovascular event, and this risk was even more pronounced for strokes, where the likelihood was 3.7 times greater.
Dr. Paul Ridker, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, called for immediate action: “Doctors cannot treat what they don’t measure. To provide the best care for our patients, we need universal screening for inflammation, cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a), and we need it now.”
The study advocates for the integration of these biomarkers into routine screening practices, alongside lifestyle modifications and new therapeutic options aimed at reducing cardiovascular risk.
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