Breast Artery Calcification (BAC) and Female Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular Health Risk Communication, Cardiovascular (CV) Risk, Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

female health, Breast Artery Calcification, mammogram

The investigators are recruiting women with and without Breast Artery Calcification (BAC) on their mammograms. Each participant in the study will undergo bloodwork at a Northwell Health lab, a cardiac CT scan, and fill out some brief questionnaires. Results will be shared with the respective participant. At the conclusion of the study, statistical analyses will be performed to further understand the associations between BAC and cardiovascular markers.

Previous work has demonstrated an association between incidentally found BAC on screening mammograms and long-term major adverse cardiovascular events. However, there are no guidelines for how to manage asymptomatic women with no history of cardiovascular disease who have incidentally found BAC on a screening mammogram. This study will simulate a reasonable approach that a cardiologist might take in determining how to manage such patients. The study is unique compared with prior studies that have utilized a convenience sample, the investigators seek to gather this information in two parallel cohorts prospectively. The investigators seek to recruit 100 women with BAC = 0 and 100 women with BAC \>0 on their mammograms. The inclusion and exclusion criteria for these groups is otherwise identical. All women have had a recent mammogram and are 55-65 years old. Exclusion criteria include: ischemia, diabetes, statin/cholesterol lowering medication use, cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, breast surgery, current pregnancy/breastfeeding, and women unable to consent. Participants will be recruited over the phone and able to e-consent if interested in the study. All participants will fill out 2 questionnaires: one on their baseline demographics/clinical history, and one on social factors. Patients will then be scheduled for bloodwork at a Northwell lab which will need to be done in a fasting state. Patients will also be schedules for a Cardiac CT scan performed at the hospital. All costs will be paid for by the study itself and patients will receive no bills from these exams.

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United States