Predicting a woman's future heart disease risk may be as simple as conducting a single blood test that screens for three risk factors.
This is according to a study published Saturday in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) meeting this weekend.
The study involved nearly 30,000 women, with an average age of 55, who had blood tests to measure two types of fat and certain types of protein in their bloodstream in 1993 and then monitored their health for 30 years, according to the researchers.
When measuring heart attack risk, one key warning sign is often overlooked, doctors say
“The strongest predictor of risk is a simple blood measure of inflammation known as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), followed by cholesterol and lipoprotein(a),” Dr. Paul Ridker, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and lead author of the study, told Fox News Digital.
The study, which involved nearly 30,000 women with an average age of 55, measured two types of fat and certain types of protein in the bloodstream. (iStock)
“Knowing all three risks, not just five or 10 years but 20 or 30 years out, gives us a roadmap for how to target specific treatments to individual patients, rather than an overly simplistic 'one size fits all' approach,” he said.
According to the Mayo Clinic, C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein made in the liver that becomes elevated when there's inflammation in the body.
Higher levels of protein indicate an increased risk of heart disease.
Colorado cardiac nurse shares survival tips after 3 heart attacks: 'Listen to your instincts'
The Mayo Clinic points out that LDL cholesterol (also known as “bad” cholesterol) can build up in your arteries and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a type of LDL cholesterol that can cause plaque buildup in your arteries.
“This is a large, compelling study that combines three predictive blood tests that have never been examined in this way before.”
The researchers found that women with the highest LDL cholesterol levels had a 36% higher associated risk of heart disease compared to women with the lowest levels.
Those with the highest Lp(a) levels had a 33% increased risk.
At the highest CRP levels, women have a 70% increased associated risk.
LDL cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, can build up in your arteries and increase your risk of heart attack and stroke. (iStock)
The researchers found that women with elevated levels of all three indicators were 1.5 times more likely to suffer a stroke and more than three times more likely to develop coronary heart disease.
While most doctors test cholesterol, few test hsCRP and Lp(a), Ridker noted.
Menopause experts say the 9 most common questions women over 40 ask their doctors
“It is a medical truism that physicians do not treat what they cannot measure.”
The fact that a single combined blood test could predict risk 30 years later is “remarkable”, the researchers said.
“It is a medical truism that physicians do not treat what they cannot measure.”
“This study tells us how many silent risks we are unaware of and gives us the opportunity to start taking precautions much earlier in life,” he added.
Senior Healthcare Analyst for Fox News NYU Langone Medical CenterDr. Johns Hopkins, who was not involved in the study, said it was a “major step forward” in combining multiple blood tests to assess women's risk of heart disease.
“This is a large, compelling study that combines three predictive blood tests that have never been looked at in this way before,” Siegel told Fox News Digital.
Women with elevated levels of all three indicators were 1.5 times more likely to suffer a stroke and more than three times more likely to develop coronary artery disease. (iStock)
“Inflammation can lead to heart attacks, so elevated inflammatory markers (CRP) support a 70% increased risk of heart disease,” he continued.
“Both LDL and Lp(a) have previously been shown to increase the risk of heart disease.”
Siegel predicts that in the future, such blood markers could be used in conjunction with artificial intelligence to determine a person's risk for heart disease and stroke.
Click here to get the FOX News app
Based on these findings, Ridker encourages patients to ask their doctors to specifically measure hsCRP and Lp(a).
“It's time to change the guidelines.”
The researchers said some patients may benefit from medications that reduce inflammation and cholesterol levels. (iStock)
In Ridker's experience, women tend to be less concerned about heart disease than men.
“Unfortunately, traditional screening guidelines rarely identify women at risk until they are in their late 60s or 70s,” he said.
“But for prevention to be most effective, it needs to start in your 30s and 40s.”
Click here to sign up for our Health Newsletter
Ridker said prevention should initially focus on a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, quitting smoking and managing stress, but some patients may also benefit from medications that reduce inflammation and lower cholesterol.
Based on these findings, the researchers recommend that patients ask their physicians to specifically measure hsCRP and Lp(a). (iStock)
The researchers acknowledged that the main limitation of the study was that the women who participated were health professionals.
“But we know this is true for men in other situations too, and if anything, it's even more of a concern for minority groups,” Ridker said.
For more health related articles, health
This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
