Mammogram AI predicts heart risk as global patient imaging data breach exposes millions

A U.S. study using artificial intelligence to quantify breast arterial calcifications on mammograms found that higher calcification levels are linked to significantly increased risk of major cardiovascular events. The analysis of over 120,000 women from Emory Healthcare and the Mayo Clinic showed hazard ratios rising from 1.3 for mild calcifications to more than 3 for severe cases, suggesting mammography could serve as a dual‑purpose screen for both breast cancer and heart disease.

Separately, a security report released by Greenbone Networks uncovered a worldwide privacy scandal in which approximately 24.5 million patient records and over 737 million medical images were publicly accessible on the internet without protection. In Germany alone, about 15,000 patient datasets—including around 1.38 million images—are openly viewable. The breach exposes personal details such as names, birth dates, and examination notes, raising concerns about potential misuse for identity theft, phishing, and other malicious activities.