2024-09-30 17:10:26
Heart attacks are among the most common causes of death. Preventing them in good time can save many lives. A current study provides new insights.
A heart attack usually occurs suddenly. However, the signs can build up over hours or days. A current study from the USA now shows that the first signs of a cardiovascular event such as a heart attack can appear in women as early as 30 years in advance. The values of three specific biomarkers in the blood are crucial: C-reactive protein (CRP), LDL cholesterol and lipoprotein (a).
For the study, the researchers examined the blood of almost 28,000 healthy US women from healthcare professionals. The women were followed over a period of three decades to record whether and when their first serious cardiovascular events occurred, such as a heart attack, stroke or cardiovascular death.
The study was published in the specialist journal “The New England Journal of Medicine”.
The result: High levels of CRP, LDL cholesterol and lipoprotein (a) are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease 30 years in advance. Women in the group with the highest levels of these biomarkers had the highest risk of cardiovascular disease. And: Each of the three markers contributed independently to the overall risk:
These risk factors remained even after age and other health risks were taken into account.
Although the study was conducted on a specific group of predominantly white U.S. women in health care professions, the study authors believe the results could be generalizable – including to men. Because other studies have already shown similar results.
The biomarkers CRP, LDL cholesterol and lipoprotein (a) are already important markers in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. However, they have so far been used to predict cardiovascular risk over a period of five to ten years.
The study authors conclude from their results that high levels of these three markers should be measured much earlier in order to be able to counteract impending arteriosclerosis in good time.
In order to prevent this vascular calcification and a heart attack, it is important to minimize the risk factors. These include, above all:
The German Heart Foundation also points out that the risks of arteriosclerosis can also be reduced with medication using statins and colchicine. The latter is also recommended in the new ESC guidelines for chronic CHD (2024), but has so far only been approved in the USA. Further studies must show whether lipoprotein (a) can also be reduced with medication.