CORRELATION BETWEEN BREAST ARTERIAL CALCIFICATIONS ON MAMMOGRAPHY, CHOLESTEROL LEVELS AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK

The objective of this study is to evaluate the correlation between arterial calcifications observed on mammograms and factors such as age, smoking status, body mass index, personal history of cardiovascular conditions, cholesterol levels (total cholesterol, LDL, HDL), and diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods: : This retrospective study comprised a cohort of 1102 women, aged between 32 and 85, who underwent mammography at the "Sf. Spiridon" Coun- n- ty Clinical Emergency Hospital Iasi from January 2018 to December 2020. Every woman underwent a routine procedure of bilateral four- view mammography. The patient's clinical and laboratory data were retrieved from the hospital's internal database. We selected in a random manner 115 age-matched women who did not have arterial calcifications in order to form the control group. Results: Out of the patients who received mammography, 95 cases (8.6%) showed the presence of breast arterial calcifications (BAC). As compared to control group, a significantly proportion of women with breast arterial calcifications were found to have a high body mass index (76.84%), elevated total cholesterol levels, cardiovascular diseases (21 cases, 22.10%), diabetes mellitus (15 cases, 15.78%), history of smoking (26 cases, 27.36%). Conclusions: : The presence of breast arterial calcifications (BAC) on mammography is strongly linked to older age, elevated cholesterol levels, smoking, and diabetes mellitus. These patients also have a personal history of cardiovascular events, indicating a strong connection between BAC and an increased risk of cardiovascular problems. This correlation suggests that detecting BAC on mammography can serve as a marker for identifying women who are at a higher risk for experiencing cardiovascular events.