Breast Implants Increase Cardiac Risks for Women: New Study Findings
Research reveals that breast implants may complicate cardiac diagnostics, increasing invasive procedures
Topline:
A recent study highlights that women with breast implants face significantly higher rates of abnormal cardiac test results, increased coronary angiography procedures, and lower rates of necessary interventions, due to diagnostic interference caused by implants.
Study Details:
Silicone breast implants, widely used since the 1960s, are associated with potential complications that interfere with the accurate diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Recent research has aimed to quantify how implants affect cardiac testing outcomes and subsequent interventions.
Methodology:
The researchers conducted a retrospective analysis utilizing the National Inpatient Sample database, evaluating cardiac test outcomes and intervention rates among 1,871,335 adult women undergoing coronary angiography, including a subset with breast implants.
Key Findings:
Women with breast implants were, on average, 10 years younger at the time of abnormal cardiac test results.
Implants were associated with significantly higher rates of abnormal cardiac functional test results, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 1.78.
These women also had higher rates of coronary angiography (OR, 1.3) but notably lower rates of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), indicating potential unnecessary invasive procedures.
Implications for Practice:
For patients, awareness of the potential diagnostic challenges posed by breast implants is crucial. Women considering implants or already having them should be thoroughly counseled about the possible increased risk of unnecessary invasive cardiac procedures.
For healthcare providers, acknowledging the interference of breast implants in cardiac imaging is essential. Clinicians may need to employ alternative or adjunctive diagnostic methods, such as cardiac PET scans, to reduce false-positive results and optimize patient care.