Association of breast arterial calcification with reproductive function indicators and cardiovascular risk factors in women

Aim. To study the association of breast arterial calcification (BAC) with reproductive history and cardiovascular risk factors (RFs).

Material and methods. A total of 198 women aged 40-74 years were examined. The groups with/without BAC were formed according to the case-control method in a 1:1 ratio taking into account age. Medical history, reproductive function, cardiovascular risk factors, clinical and paraclinical parameters were assessed.

Results. Women with BAC were more often postmenopausal than women without BAC (p=0,032), had a higher breastfeeding prevalence (p=0,033), lower values of weight (p=0,001), height (p<0,001), and waist circumference (WC) (p=0,004), and higher blood pressure (BP) (p<0,05). In univariate regression analysis, BAC was associated with postmenopause, breastfeeding, a higher number of pregnancies, lower height, WC, and systolic BP. In multivariate analysis, BAC was significantly associated with height (p=0,011), WC (p=0,001), and systolic BP (p=0,003). Women without BAC were more likely to have former smoking (p=0,032). No associations of BAC with lipid and carbohydrate metabolism parameters or inflammation were found.

Conclusion. The results demonstrate an association of BAC with only some of the known cardiovascular RFs as follows: blood pressure, postmenopause, and breastfeeding, which has a protective effect on cardiovascular diseases. BAC may be considered as a promising marker of female-specific cardiovascular risk with regulatory mechanisms different from atherogenesis processes.

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