A study from the University of Copenhagen reveals that almost half of adults over the age of 40 suffer from atherosclerosis without knowing it.
- According to the new study, almost half of adults over the age of 40 suffer from atherosclerosis, without showing any symptoms.
- Obstructive coronary atherosclerosis in asymptomatic patients multiplies the risk of heart attack by 8.
- The researchers call for improved screening and early detection of cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis.
If we are all carriers of atheroma plaques (deposit of lipids on the walls of the arteries), their excess can lead to damage to the arterial wall and obstruction of the vessel. This condition, which can have serious consequences, is called atherosclerosis. A Danish study reveals that it can develop early and remain latent for several years. Researchers estimate that nearly half of people over 40 suffer from it while being asymptomatic.
Atherosclerosis: 46% of adults suffer from it while being asymptomatic
The scientists followed 9,533 asymptomatic people over the age of 40 who had not been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. The volunteers underwent an angiogram, among other things. The examination revealed that 46% of them had previously undetected coronary atherosclerosis. The disease was non-obstructive for 36%, and was for the remaining 10%.
During a median follow-up of 3.5 years, 193 people died and 71 had myocardial infarction. Analyzes show that atherosclerosis increases the risk of heart problems, especially if the individual is unaware of their condition.
“In asymptomatic individuals, obstructive coronary atherosclerosis is associated with a more than 8-fold increased risk of myocardial infarction”write the scientists in their article published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine on March 28, 2023.
Heart health: we need screening and early detection
“It can develop many years before an individual shows symptoms”warns Dr. Klaus Fuglsang Kofoed, lead author of the research in an interview with Medical News Today. “To prevent heart attacks, therefore, it is very important to understand what characteristics define an asymptomatic individual at high risk for clinically manifesting diseases”he adds.
He and his team stress that efforts must be made to improve the detection of cardiac disorders. For them, the early detection of cardiovascular diseases is the key to fighting against these pathologies, as is the case for cancer.