Researchers from Karolinska Institutet have discovered a new potential risk marker for cardiovascular disease in women.
Their study has found a link between low levels of a specific anti-inflammatory antibody and a higher risk of heart attack and coronary heart disease.
This finding may pave the way for improved detection and prevention of heart disease, which remains the leading cause of death for both women and men in Sweden.
Historically, heart disease research has often focused more on men, while women’s heart health has been somewhat neglected. However, women tend to be affected by heart disease later in life and often face additional risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart failure.
This new study shifts some focus to understanding heart disease in women, specifically through the lens of inflammation.
The study, conducted over 16 years, followed 932 women, with an average age of 66. Among these women, 113 developed cardiovascular disease during the study period.
The key finding was that women with lower levels of an antibody known as anti-PC (antibodies to phosphorylcholine) had a higher risk of heart attack and coronary heart disease.
On the other hand, women with higher levels of this antibody had a 25% lower risk of developing these heart conditions.
Phosphorylcholine is a fatty substance, and the anti-PC antibody plays an important role in reducing inflammation in the blood vessels.
This protective effect can help prevent atherosclerosis, a chronic condition where the arteries become clogged with plaque, leading to restricted blood flow and increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.
According to Johan Frostegård, Professor of Medicine at the Institute of Environmental Medicine and the head of the study, the anti-PC antibody has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties that protect against this dangerous build-up in the blood vessels.
Previous research had already established the connection between low levels of anti-PC and heart disease in men, but this is the first study to show a similar risk for women.
Frostegård and his team believe that this antibody could serve as an independent marker for heart disease risk in older women, regardless of other known risk factors like age or high blood pressure.
While these results are promising, more work is needed to determine exactly how much anti-PC is necessary to offer protection.
Frostegård explains that researchers still need to figure out the ideal level of this antibody to use as a reliable risk marker, much like the way high blood pressure levels are used today.
He and his team are already working on a larger study, involving both men and women, to identify what levels of anti-PC are most effective in preventing cardiovascular disease.
Beyond using anti-PC levels as a risk marker, the study also hints at the possibility of developing a vaccine to prevent heart disease.
If future research confirms that low levels of anti-PC are a significant risk factor, a vaccine could potentially raise these levels in people at risk, helping to protect them from heart disease and heart attacks.
This discovery marks an important step in improving heart health for women, who have often been underrepresented in cardiovascular research.
As the study continues, it could lead to better screening methods, targeted treatments, and possibly even new preventive measures to lower the risk of heart disease, especially for women.
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The research findings can be found in Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
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