Overview

• Mass General Brigham reported that hsCRP, a blood marker of inflammation, flagged elevated lifetime cardiovascular risk in women without standard modifiable risk factors.
• In the Women’s Health Study cohort of 12,530 SMuRF-Less participants followed for 30 years, hsCRP above 3 mg/L was linked to 77% higher coronary heart disease risk, 39% higher stroke risk, and 52% higher risk of any major cardiovascular event.
• A concurrent analysis of randomized trial data found approximately a 38% reduction in cardiovascular events with statin therapy among SMuRF-Less women with elevated hsCRP.
• Findings were presented as late-breaking clinical science at the European Society of Cardiology Congress and published in The European Heart Journal.
• Investigators emphasize that hsCRP testing is widely available and could guide earlier prevention efforts, including lifestyle measures and possible statin use.