Breast Artery Calcification (BAC) and Female Cardiovascular Disease

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.

Inclusion criteria

• female
• 55-65 years old

Exclusion criteria

• ischemia
• diabetes
• statin or cholesterol lowering medicine use
• cardiovascular disease: coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, significant valvular disease
• history of breast surgery or breast cancer
• pregnant women
• breastfeeding women
• women unable to consent