Routine mammograms may provide important insights into heart disease risk and inform primary prevention efforts for older women.

US researchers have found that breast arterial calcification seen on screening digital mammography was associated with a higher risk of atherosclerotic CVD over roughly six years in postmenopausal women.

“We hope that our study will encourage an update of the guidelines for reporting breast arterial calcification from routine mammograms,” said study author and clinical epidemiologist Dr Carlos Iribarren from the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California.

“Our study has moved the needle toward recommending routine assessment and reporting of breast arterial calcification in postmenopausal women.”