Presence of uterine myometrial calcification is associated with the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), suggests a preliminary study reported in the journal Menopause.¹

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to explore a possible link between carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) and uterine myometrial calcification (UMC). For this, 81 postmenopausal women with no gynecological complaints were evaluated for the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. UMC was assessed with the help of transvaginal ultrasonography.

A modest positive association was found between CIMT and UMC scores. Women who had a UMC score of 2 or more were at high risk of atherosclerosis with an odds ratio of 15.4. After adjusting for age and duration of menopause, the risk increased 9.2 times for participants with a UMC score of ≥2. Among women with CIMT of ≥0.075, the atherosclerosis risk was nearly 30-times higher with OR of 27.8.

The risk of cardiovascular disease is increased in postmenopausal women. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. This study has shown a significant correlation between atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk and UMC score suggesting uterine myometrial calcification as a novel marker of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Hence, presence of calcification in the uterine myometrium should alert the clinician to assess the patient for cardiovascular risk. Early detection of underlying heart disease and targeted management may prevent cardiovascular events.

Reference

1. Rabia Akilli, et al. Uterine arcuate artery calcification as a potential marker of cardiovascular risk-a preliminary study. Menopause. 2022 Jul 12. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001997.