A new study suggests that inflammation, an often-overlooked risk factor, may explain why some women suffer heart attacks and strokes despite appearing healthy.
Researchers analyzed three decades of data from more than 12,000 women and found that inflammation was as significant as high LDL cholesterol in predicting heart disease. The findings were presented Friday at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Madrid and published in the European Heart Journal.
Unlike cholesterol or blood pressure, inflammation is not routinely measured during cardiovascular screenings in the United States, leaving many women unaware of their risk.
“Half of all heart attacks and strokes occur in people who do not have any major risk factors,” said lead author Dr. Paul Ridker, a preventive cardiologist at Mass General Brigham and professor at Harvard Medical School.
The study drew on data from the long-running Women’s Health Study. Of nearly 28,000 participants who provided initial blood samples, 12,530 had no standard modifiable risk factors — such as high cholesterol, smoking, or hypertension. Yet over 30 years, 973 experienced cardiovascular events, with significantly higher inflammation levels seen among this group.
Inflammation can be measured using a simple and inexpensive blood test for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). While common in Europe, the test is not standard in U.S. care.
Dr. Anais Hausvater, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Health who was not involved in the study, called the findings “potentially practice changing.” She noted that despite strong evidence, “the vast majority of women are not being screened.”
Statins, typically prescribed to lower cholesterol, can also reduce inflammation. A prior clinical trial showed women with high hsCRP but no other risk factors saw a 38% reduction in serious cardiovascular events when treated with statins. Without hsCRP testing, however, these patients often go untreated.
“The bottom line is that physicians will not treat what they don’t measure,” Ridker said.
Cardiologists say the results highlight the need to expand screening. “This is another tool women should be offered to assess their risk,” Hausvater said. Dr. Tania Ruiz of Vanderbilt University called the study “very exciting,” noting it is the first large-scale analysis of hsCRP as a predictor of cardiovascular events in otherwise healthy women.
Women with autoimmune conditions such as lupus may be especially vulnerable, Ruiz added, underscoring the importance of testing.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
CDC Reports Rise in Rabies Outbreaks Across U.S.
Diet and Exercise Crucial for Success on Weight-Loss Drugs
Beta Blockers After Mild Heart Attacks Found Ineffective, Risky for Women
