Top in cardiology: Irregular menstruation linked to CVD; heart disease risk scores

Women were more likely to develop CVD or atrial fibrillation if they had irregular menstrual cycles — shorter than 21 days or longer than 35 days — in a prospective study of UK Biobank data, researchers reported.

“These data highlight the importance of monitoring menstrual cycle characteristics throughout a woman’s reproductive life for the prevention of CVD and atrial fibrillation among women,” Huijie Zhang, MD, PhD, a professor and senior physician and deputy director of the department of endocrinology and metabolism at Nanfang Hospital of Southern Medical University in Guangzhou, China, told Healio.

It was the top story in cardiology last week.

Another top story reported on a head-to-head comparison of the coronary artery calcium score and polygenic risk score to see which is the better predictor of coronary heart disease. When added to a traditional risk factor-based model, researchers found that the coronary artery calcium score improved risk discrimination, and a polygenic risk score did not. There was no predictive improvement in combining the two scores.

Read these and more top stories in cardiology below:

Short, long menstrual cycles may increase heart disease risk

Women with long or short menstrual cycles are more likely to develop CVD or atrial fibrillation compared with women reporting regular menstrual cycles, but they are no more likely to experience heart failure or stroke, researchers reported. Read more.

Coronary artery calcium score, not polygenic risk score, best predicts heart disease risk

Data show cardiovascular risk discrimination improved when adding a coronary artery calcium score to a coronary heart disease prediction model based on traditional risk factors; however, there were no changes when adding a polygenic risk score. Read more.

Higher neuroticism level tied to incident AF, younger age at AF onset

People with a high level of neuroticism were more likely to develop atrial fibrillation, and to do so at a younger age, compared with people with lower levels, according to a study presented at Heart Rhythm 2023. Read more.

Pregnancy complications tied to lifetime stroke risk

People who experience adverse pregnancy outcomes develop cerebrovascular disease at younger ages, with the earliest onset and greatest risk seen in those with multiple pregnancies affected by complications, researchers reported. Read more.

Stroke survivors, caregivers must ask questions and advocate for further testing, support

Approximately one in four stroke survivors will experience a second stroke within 5 years, according to data from the American Stroke Association, yet research shows many patients still do not receive adequate follow-up and support. Read more.