Blood test accurately predicts women's 30-year heart disease risk

Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital have discovered that a blood test measuring three biological markers—high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), LDL cholesterol, and lipoprotein(a)—can predict a woman's risk of major cardiovascular events over a 30-year period. The study, involving 27,939 participants from the Women's Health Study, followed these women for three decades. The findings suggest that women with the highest levels of these markers are at a significantly increased risk for heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events.

The study, presented at the European Society of Cardiology annual meeting in London, advocates for the initiation of heart disease risk assessments in women starting in their 30s. Results showed that women with elevated levels of hsCRP had a 70% higher risk of a major cardiovascular event, while those with high LDL cholesterol had a 36% increased risk. The highest levels of lipoprotein(a) were associated with a 3.7 times greater likelihood of having a stroke. The researchers propose more aggressive preventive measures for women with elevated marker levels, which could include lifestyle modifications and potentially drug therapies to manage these risks.