Precancerous changes in the cervix increase the risk of heart and vascular diseases.
Young women with precancerous changes in the cervix may face a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. This conclusion was reached by researchers from Sweden who analyzed data from national medical registries from 1958 to 2021. The results of the study were published in JAMA Oncology.
The condition in question is called HSIL — it refers to significant changes in cervical cells that can eventually lead to cancer and are most often associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV). The researchers compared nearly 30,000 girls and women aged 15-24 with this diagnosis to more than 149,000 of their peers without such changes.
It was found that women with HSIL had a risk of cardiovascular diseases approximately 20 percent higher. In particular, the risk of heart attack was 58 percent higher, while the risk of stroke was about 42 percent higher. Additionally, this group showed higher rates of hypertension, heart failure, and arrhythmias. The risk of death from cardiac causes was also elevated.
The authors emphasize that the study does not prove direct cause and effect. However, they note that cardiovascular diseases and oncological processes share common risk factors — such as inflammation, smoking, and obesity. According to the researchers, young women with a history of HSIL should pay more attention to monitoring cardiovascular risk factors and undergoing regular medical examinations.
