Mammograms may convey more than breast cancer risk: breast arterial calcification and arterio-sclerotic related diseases in women of the DOM cohort

Abstract

In a cohort of 12,239 women aged 50-69, who participated in a population-based breast cancer screening project (DOM-project) in Utrecht, The Netherlands, as well as being coded for micro-calcifications indicative of breast cancer, the mammograms were also coded for arterial calcifications. This allowed for a secondary analysis of associations between breast arterial calcification (BAC) and the occurrence of arteriosclerosis-associated morbidity (ie diabetes, hypertension, albuminuria, stroke, thrombosis and myocardial infarction). Arterial calcifications were seen on screening mammograms in 9.1% of the women. Significant relations were found between BAC and albuminuria [Relative risk (RR) 2.7; 95% CI 1.0-7.0], BAC and hypertension (RR 1.1; 95% CI 1.0-1.3), transient ischaemic attack (TIA)/stroke (RR 1.4; 95% CI 1.1-1.8), thrombosis (RR 1.5; 95% CI 1.0-2.2) and myocardial infarction (RR 1.8; 95% CI 1.1-2.9). In addition BAC were associated with diabetes in the oldest age-group (RR 1.7; 95% CI 1.2-2.4). All relations were adjusted for age, smoking, parity and Quetelet index. The results of the present study show that BAC as detected on breast cancer screening mammograms are associated with disorders related to increased or accelerated arterio-sclerosis. Where increased parity is associated with a decrease in breast cancer risk, parity increases the occurrence of BAC. The present study suggests that breast-cancer screening mammograms may allow for the early detection of enhanced cardiovascular disease risk among otherwise healthy women.