Kidney function, proteinuria and breast arterial calcification in women without clinical cardiovascular disease: The MINERVA study

Abstract

BackgroundBreast arterial calcification (BAC) may be a predictor of cardiovascular events and is highly prevalent in persons with end-stage kidney disease. However, few studies to date have examined the association between mild-to-moderate kidney function and proteinuria with BAC.MethodsWe prospectively enrolled women with no prior cardiovascular disease aged 60 to 79 years undergoing mammography screening at Kaiser Permanente Northern California between 10/24/2012 and 2/13/2015. Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR), along with specific laboratory, demographic, and medical data, were measured at the baseline visit. Baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), medication history, and other comorbidities were identified from self-report and/or electronic medical records. BAC presence and gradation (mass) was measured by digital quantification of full-field mammograms.ResultsAmong 3,507 participants, 24.5% were aged ≥70 years, 63.5% were white, 7.5% had eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2, with 85.7% having uACR ≥30 mg/g and 3.3% having uACR ≥300 mg/g. The prevalence of any measured BAC (>0 mg) was 27.9%. Neither uACR ≥30 mg/g nor uACR ≥300 were significantly associated with BAC in crude or multivariable analyses. Reduced eGFR was associated with BAC in univariate analyses (odds ratio 1.53, 95% CI: 1.18–2.00), but the association was no longer significant after adjustment for potential confounders. Results were similar in various sensitivity analyses that used different BAC thresholds or analytic approaches.ConclusionsAmong women without cardiovascular disease undergoing mammography screening, reduced eGFR and albuminuria were not significantly associated with BAC.

Association of Mammographic Density and Benign Breast Calcifications Individually or Combined with Hypertension, Diabetes, and Hypercholesterolemia in Women ≥40 Years of Age: A Retrospective Study

“… 1 Among those, benign breast calcifications (Bcs) are better studied, although data remain limited. 2 However, mammographic examinations report on other breast tissue characteristics that remain underexplored in that regard. In particular, mammographic density (MD), which classifies breast composition according to the amount of fatty and fibroglandular tissue, 3 has been extensively studied in relation to breast cancer risk, 4 but its association with other vital issues related to women’s health, particularly CVD health, remains to be explored.…”

“…Recent evidence has linked some breast tissue components as viewed on mammographic examinations with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in women 1. Among those, benign breast calcifications (Bcs) are better studied, although data remain limited 2. However, mammographic examinations report on other breast tissue characteristics that remain underexplored in that regard.…”