New Study Links MRI Imaging to Early Detection of Cardiovascular Risk

Medical imaging technologies can have an increasingly dramatic impact on risk assessment for diseases and other health conditions. The scans conducted by MRI and CT equipment can help detect the risk of developing debilitating ailments, such as cardiovascular disease, which can lead to events such as heart attacks and strokes.

According to a new study published in the online magazine Radiology, using an MRI to capture an image of any carotid artery plaque build up could provide an accurate prediction of future cardiovascular events in individuals with no history of heart disease. As reported by AuntMinnie.com, researchers from both the U.S. and Canada discovered that the presence of a lipid core, as determined by the MRI, served as a consistent predictor of adverse cardiovascular activity.

“This is the first population-based prospective study to determine if vulnerable plaque features by MRI add to the risk of a cardiovascular event beyond the traditional risk factors,” David Bluemke, Ph.D., co-author of the study and director of radiology and imaging sciences at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, said in a statement from the Radiological Society of North America.

Assessing risks
According to the World Heart Federation, the majority of cardiovascular diseases are caused by certain factors, which caught early enough, can be controlled to reduce the risk of future health problems. Conditions such as high blood pressure, obesity, tobacco use and lack of physical activity can increase an individual’s possibility of developing issues heart performance.

Statistics from the WHF attribute 13 percent of cardiovascular deaths worldwide to hypertension, with an additional 9 percent to tobacco use and 6 percent to physical inactivity. These factors are all capable of being modified through changes to lifestyle and habits, such as eating healthier foods or increasing cardiovascular exercises.

The new study from Bluemke’s team of scientists shows that digital imaging with MRIs can help assess risks beyond the commonly associated factors.

Utilizing the best modality
Diagnostic Radiology is full of varying technologies that allow radiologists to properly diagnose and treat medical conditions as well as determine risk factors for developing diseases. Low-dose mammography equipment can help assess breast cancer risks while exposing patients to a lower amount of radiation than other machines. The study found that MRI was the most sensitive equipment for the test, and its noninvasive capabilities make it ideal for further scans of cardiovascular risks.

“MRI is unique in that it is one of the few ways to see if one of these subcomponents of plaque is present at all. [This study was] specifically designed to look at people who are relatively normal, follow them for a very long period of time, and then look at the factors we haven’t noticed before, or haven’t been able to observe before, and determine if those factors help us predict who is at risk for severe events,” Bluemke said, quoted by the news source.

The findings from the study might have a lasting impact on future screenings for cardiovascular events. Catching carotid plaque build up early can allow physicians to begin helping patients to change their lifestyles before any serious developments take shape.

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