A simple blood test may be able to forecast a woman’s risk of developing heart disease over the next three decades, according to new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2024.
The study, which included nearly 30,000 women with an average age of 55, found that women with elevated levels of three specific blood markers had a significantly higher risk of experiencing a heart attack, stroke, or other major cardiovascular event within the next 30 years compared to those with lower levels.
Key Findings
Women with the highest levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as “bad” cholesterol, had a 36% increased associated risk for heart disease.
Those with the highest levels of lipoprotein(a), a type of fat in the blood, faced a 33% greater risk.
Participants with the highest levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an indicator of inflammation, had a 70% increased associated risk.
When all three measures were assessed together, women with the highest levels were more than 1.5 times more likely to have a stroke and over three times more likely to develop coronary heart disease compared to those with the lowest levels.
Implications for Early Intervention
The researchers emphasized the importance of evaluating women’s heart disease risk and considering preventive medications as early as their 30s, rather than waiting until after menopause as is currently recommended.
“In recent years, we’ve learned more about how increased levels of inflammation can interact with lipids to compound cardiovascular disease risks,” said Dr. Ahmed A.K. Hasan, a medical officer at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
While the study focused on women, the researchers expect similar findings in men. They called for universal screening for CRP and lipoprotein(a) alongside standard cholesterol tests.
“This is a large, convincing study that puts together three predictive blood tests that haven’t been looked at in this way before,” said Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News.
The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.