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REACT study reveals high prevalence of silent atherosclerosis in young adults
The REACT study, an international research project presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, has revealed that atherosclerosis is significantly more prevalent in younger, asymptomatic adults than previously understood. Analyzing 16,808 participants aged 18 to 70, researchers found that 57.1% of individuals already exhibited arterial plaque despite having no known cardiovascular history or symptoms.
The study highlights a progressive increase in prevalence with age, affecting approximately one in thirteen adults aged 18 to 29, rising to nine out of ten people in the 60 to 70 age group. Notable demographic differences were observed: men tend to develop the condition five to ten years earlier than women, while women experience accelerated progression between the ages of 40 and 60, coinciding with menopause.
Led by Borja Ibáñez of the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC) and Henning Bundgaard of Rigshospitalet, the research advocates for a paradigm shift toward early detection. By using advanced imaging and potentially portable ultrasound, clinicians aim to identify the disease before it results in life-threatening events such as heart attacks or strokes. The project is expanding its validation efforts through collaborations with India, Singapore, Tanzania, and Mexico.
Entities
Borja Ibáñez · Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares Carlos III · European Society of Cardiology · Rigshospitalet · The New England Journal of Medicine
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 8 SOURCES] The prevalence of atherosclerosis increases with age, affecting nine out of ten people in the 60 to 70 age group. elnacional.com.py · www.diariodealmeria.es · www.europasur.es · www.diariodejerez.es · www.diariodesevilla.es · +3 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] Men tend to develop atherosclerosis five to ten years earlier than women. www.diariodealmeria.es · www.europasur.es · www.diariodejerez.es · www.diariodesevilla.es · www.economiadigital.es · +2 more
- [● 7 SOURCES] In women, the progression of the disease accelerates significantly between the ages of 40 and 60, coinciding with menopause. www.diariodealmeria.es · www.europasur.es · www.diariodejerez.es · www.diariodesevilla.es · www.economiadigital.es · +2 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] Borja Ibáñez advocates for a paradigm shift in prevention to detect the disease directly before it leads to a heart attack or stroke. www.diariodealmeria.es · www.europasur.es · elnacional.com.py · www.diariodejerez.es · www.diariodesevilla.es · +3 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] 57.1% of the 16,808 participants in the REACT study presented with arterial plaque despite being asymptomatic. elnacional.com.py · www.diariodealmeria.es · www.europasur.es · www.diariodejerez.es · www.diariodesevilla.es · +3 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] Approximately one in thirteen adults between the ages of 18 and 29 already exhibit signs of atherosclerosis. elnacional.com.py · www.diariodealmeria.es · www.europasur.es · www.diariodejerez.es · www.diariodesevilla.es · +3 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] The research was presented during a special session of the European Society of Cardiology Congress (ESC 2026). elnacional.com.py · www.diariodealmeria.es · www.diariodejerez.es · www.diariodesevilla.es · www.economiadigital.es · +3 more
- [● 8 SOURCES] The study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine. elnacional.com.py · www.diariodealmeria.es · www.diariodejerez.es · www.diariodesevilla.es · www.economiadigital.es · +3 more