A study by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital has shown that by measuring three specific biological markers in the blood, doctors can better predict the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, over the next 30 years. This approach is more accurate than just measuring one marker and offers a new way to prevent heart disease, especially in women.
The study was conducted with 27,939 healthy American women and presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress in London. It was also published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The research found that the combination of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a))—a genetic lipid fraction—can significantly predict cardiovascular risk over an unprecedented 30-year follow-up period.
What the Experts Say?
“Doctors cannot treat what they don’t measure,” said Dr. Paul Ridker, the lead author of the study and the director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He emphasized the importance of universal screening for inflammation, cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a) to provide the best care for patients. He added, “To provide the best care for our patients, we need universal screening for inflammation, cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a), and we need it now. By so doing, we can target our treatments to the specific biologic need of individual patients, fulfilling our longstanding hope to provide truly personalized preventive care.”
Research Details
The researchers analyzed data from the Women’s Health Study (WHS), funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). This trial began in 1993 and has followed female health professionals aged 45 years and older. When these women enrolled in the study, they had their hsCRP, LDL-C, and Lp(a) levels tested. The main focus of the study was to track the first major adverse cardiovascular event in participants, which included heart attacks, coronary revascularization (a procedure to improve blood flow to the heart), strokes, or death from cardiovascular causes.
Key Findings
To assess the impact of each marker, the participants were divided into five groups, from those with the lowest levels to the highest levels of the markers. The study found that women with the highest levels of these markers faced significantly higher risks of major cardiovascular events:
– hsCRP: Women with the highest levels had a 70% greater risk of a major cardiovascular event.
– LDL-C: Women with the highest levels had a 36% greater risk.
– Lp(a): Women with the highest levels had a 33% greater risk.
While hsCRP was found to be the strongest marker, all three markers were important. Women with elevated levels of all three markers were 2.6 times more likely to experience a major cardiovascular event. The risk was even higher for stroke, with these women being 3.7 times more likely to suffer a stroke over the next 30 years.
The Road Ahead
The study highlights that each of these three risk factors can be modified with lifestyle changes and medication. Multiple studies have shown how lowering cholesterol and inflammation can significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Moreover, new drugs that lower Lp(a) and advanced anti-inflammatory agents are currently being tested to see if they can further reduce cardiovascular events.
The findings from this study strongly support the need for earlier and more aggressive preventive measures, especially for women, who are often underdiagnosed and undertreated for cardiovascular disease.
This research could change the way doctors screen and treat women for heart disease, leading to more personalized and effective care.
