Imperial College London study links chronic inflammation to heart damage

chronic inflammation heart disease cardiovascular health chronic stress GlycA blood marker

A large-scale study involving nearly 480,000 adults in the United Kingdom has found that chronic inflammation is linked to silent structural changes in the heart, significantly increasing the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Researchers from the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences and Imperial College London utilized data from the UK Biobank, analyzing blood markers—specifically glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA)—alongside heart imaging and genetic information.

The findings indicate that individuals in the highest 20 percent for inflammation levels face a 43 percent higher risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke compared to those in the lowest 20 percent. These structural changes, which include thickened heart walls, smaller heart chambers, and reduced ability to fill with blood, can develop for years before any clinical symptoms, such as chest pain or shortness of breath, become apparent.

Researchers noted that this chronic inflammation is often driven by a combination of lifestyle factors, socioeconomic status, and psychological stress. While the damage can be long-term, experts suggest that managing modifiable risk factors like smoking, obesity, and mental health can help mitigate these risks.

Entities

British Heart Foundation · Declan O’Regan · Imperial College London · MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences · UK Biobank

Claims

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

[● 4 SOURCES] The study analyzed data from nearly 480,000 adults in the UK Biobank. www.connectedtoindia.com · www.fehmarn24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
[● 4 SOURCES] Structural heart changes can occur years before cardiovascular symptoms appear. www.connectedtoindia.com · www.fehmarn24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
[● 3 SOURCES] Individuals in the highest 20 percent of inflammation levels have a 43 percent higher risk of heart attack and stroke compared to the lowest 20 percent. www.fehmarn24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
[● 4 SOURCES] Chronic inflammation is linked to damaging structural changes in the heart. www.connectedtoindia.com · www.fehmarn24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de
[● 4 SOURCES] The study used the blood marker glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA) to measure inflammation. www.connectedtoindia.com · www.fehmarn24.de · www.kreiszeitung.de · www.tz.de