Researchers analyzed records of 5,059 postmenopausal women who had digital mammogram screening at nine centers in Northern California from October 2012 to February 2015. The patients were followed for 6½years after their screenings to see if they experienced a heart attack, stroke or any other kind of cardiovascular disease.
Three key findings:
- Women who had shown evidence of breast arterial calcification in their mammograms were 51 percent more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke than those who showed no calcification.
- Women who showed evidence of calcification were 23 percent more likely to develop any type of cardiovascular disease.
- Calcification was more common among women identifying as white or Hispanic and less common among those identifying as Black or Asian.
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