REACT study finds silent atherosclerosis in 57% of healthy adults

atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease REACT study silent heart disease vascular imaging

The REACT study, an international research initiative involving Spain and Denmark, has revealed that silent atherosclerosis is significantly more prevalent than previously estimated. Findings presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress and published in The New England Journal of Medicine indicate that 57.1% of the 16,808 participants, aged 18 to 70, exhibited atherosclerosis plaques despite being asymptomatic and having no prior cardiovascular diagnosis.

The study highlights that the condition can begin in early adulthood; approximately one in 13 individuals aged 18 to 29 shows signs of silent atherosclerosis in at least one artery. Prevalence increases with age, affecting roughly 90% of those in the 60 to 70 age bracket. Researchers also noted sex-based differences, observing that atherosclerotic profiles appear five to ten years earlier in men than in women.

Led by Borja Ibáñez of the National Centre for Cardiovascular Research (CNIC) and Henning Bundgaard of Rigshospitalet, the research suggests a need to shift from traditional risk factor estimation—such as cholesterol and blood pressure—toward direct detection of plaque to improve cardiovascular disease prevention.

Entities

Borja Ibáñez · Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares · Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III · European Society of Cardiology · Henning Bundgaard · National Centre for Cardiovascular Research Carlos III · Rigshospitalet · The New England Journal of Medicine

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 7 SOURCES] Approximately 57.1% of the 16,808 study participants presented with atherosclerosis plaques despite being asymptomatic and previously undiagnosed. cronicadecantabria.com · cnnportugal.iol.pt · time.news · www.upday.com · www.20minutos.es · +2 more
[● 5 SOURCES] Cardiovascular diseases cause approximately 20 million deaths annually worldwide. cronicadecantabria.com · cnnportugal.iol.pt · time.news · www.20minutos.es · www.todoalicante.es
[● 3 SOURCES] Atherosclerosis prevalence increases with age, reaching 9 out of 10 people in the 60 to 70 age group. www.upday.com · www.20minutos.es · www.diariodesalud.com.do
[● 2 SOURCES] Atherosclerosis development in men occurs five to ten years earlier than in women. www.upday.com · www.diariodesalud.com.do
[● 8 SOURCES] The REACT study findings were presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress and published in The New England Journal of Medicine. www.elmundo.es · cronicadecantabria.com · cnnportugal.iol.pt · time.news · www.upday.com · +3 more
[● 4 SOURCES] One in 13 young adults aged 18 to 29 has silent atherosclerosis in at least one artery. www.elmundo.es · www.upday.com · www.20minutos.es · www.diariodesalud.com.do
[● 6 SOURCES] The REACT study analyzed 16,808 participants aged 18 to 70 from Spain and Denmark. cnnportugal.iol.pt · time.news · www.upday.com · www.20minutos.es · www.diariodesalud.com.do · +1 more