A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress suggests that predicting a woman’s future heart disease risk could be as simple as a single blood test. This test screens for three key risk factors: high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)).
The study, which involved nearly 30,000 women with an average age of 55, used data from blood tests conducted in 1993 and monitored the participants’ health outcomes over the next 30 years. The findings highlight the importance of these three blood markers in predicting long-term cardiovascular risk.
The strongest predictor of heart disease risk identified in the study was hsCRP, a protein that indicates inflammation in the body. High levels of hsCRP were associated with a 70% increased risk of heart disease, while elevated levels of LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) and Lp(a) were associated with a 36% and 33% increased risk, respectively.
Women who had high levels of all three markers were significantly more likely to experience strokes and coronary heart disease, emphasizing the value of comprehensive risk assessment beyond just cholesterol measurement.
Despite the clear benefits of measuring all three markers, the study’s lead author, Dr. Paul Ridker, noted that most doctors currently focus only on cholesterol levels, often overlooking hsCRP and Lp(a).
This oversight means that many women at risk for heart disease may not be identified early enough for effective prevention. The study’s findings suggest that incorporating these additional markers into routine screenings could allow for more personalized and timely preventive measures.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst not involved in the study, called the research a “big step forward” in understanding women’s cardiac risk. He highlighted the potential for these blood markers, possibly in combination with artificial intelligence, to revolutionize how heart disease risk is assessed and managed in the future. Both Ridker and Siegel recommend that patients proactively ask their doctors to measure hsCRP and Lp(a) during health screenings.
While the study provided valuable insights, the researchers acknowledged that the participants were primarily health professionals, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. However, the study still underscores the need for earlier and more comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessments, especially in women.
The research, funded by several national health institutes, suggests that with better screening practices, prevention efforts could start much earlier, potentially reducing the incidence of heart disease in women.
