A study published in the European Heart Journal reports that using artificial intelligence to analyze mammograms can improve detection of cardiovascular disease risk in women, according to a May 8 announcement from Emory University.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States. Researchers say this new approach could help identify many women who have previously gone undiagnosed and untreated for heart disease.
The retrospective study was led by Hari Trivedi, MD, an associate professor at Emory University School of Medicine. The research involved 123,762 women between ages 40 and 79 from Emory Healthcare and another large health care system. All participants had undergone breast screenings but did not have known cardiovascular disease. Trivedi’s team used AI technology to measure calcium deposits found in breast tissue arteries on mammograms.
“Mammograms hold significant information about a women’s heart health, which we can now discover using AI. It’s important for every woman to have a conversation with their doctor about their results and whether taking preventative steps would be necessary,” said Trivedi.
Breast arterial calcification (BAC) indicates hardening of arteries and is linked to higher risks for conditions such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or death. The amount of BAC was categorized as severe, moderate, mild or absent. Women with mild calcification were found to be around 30% more likely to suffer serious cardiovascular events compared to those without calcification; moderate calcification raised the risk by over 70%, while severe calcification doubled or tripled it.
“The relationship between breast arterial calcification and cardiovascular disease has been known for decades, but we now have the ability to precisely measure it and track it over time,” said Trivedi.
Trivedi also said: “Women are recommended to start mammograms at age 40. Women under 50 are typically not considered at risk for cardiovascular disease and may not even be screened. So, the fact that we see a link between breast calcification and heart health in women under 50 is a really important finding.”
The researchers received funding from several National Institutes of Health grants supporting this work.
