Massachusetts, United States (Enmaeya News) — Nearly half of strokes and heart attacks occur in people without traditional risk factors for heart disease, according to a new study, raising questions about hidden causes behind these conditions.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital in Brigham, U.S., analyzed data from the Women’s Health Study, which tracked more than 12,000 women over three decades. All participants were initially healthy and had no known risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
The team focused on levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), a marker of inflammation in the body. Women with elevated hsCRP levels faced significantly higher risks: coronary artery disease increased by 77%, stroke by 39%, and major cardiovascular events by 52%.
“These findings suggest that inflammation, even in the absence of traditional risk factors, plays a critical role in heart and vascular disease,” said Dr. Paul Ridker, preventive cardiologist at the Massachusetts Heart and Vascular Institute. “This group often goes unnoticed during routine check-ups, leaving them vulnerable to serious complications later in life.”
A separate clinical trial showed that women with high hsCRP could reduce their cardiovascular risk by nearly 38% using statins—cholesterol-lowering drugs that have been widely used since the 1980s. The benefits are most pronounced when therapy begins in the early forties.
“While lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet and regular exercise remain essential, statins may provide an additional layer of protection against heart attacks and strokes,” Ridker added. “Early identification is key—preventive care in the forties can make a real difference before it’s too late.”
Experts note that chronic inflammation, often linked to obesity, may also contribute to other conditions including diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, heart disease, and certain forms of dementia.
The study was presented at the European Society of Cardiology conference and published in the European Heart Journal on August 29, with coverage by the Daily Mail.
