Predicting a woman’s future heart disease risk could be as simple as administering a single blood test to screen for three risk factors.

That’s according to research published in The New England Journal of Medicine on Saturday — research that was also presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress this weekend.

The study, which included nearly 30,000 women averaging 55 years of age, measured two types of fat in the bloodstream along with a certain type of protein with a blood test in 1993, then monitored the participants’ health for a 30-year period, the researchers said.

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“The strongest predictor of risk was a simple blood measure of inflammation known as high sensitivity C-reactive protein, or hsCRP, followed by cholesterol and lipoprotein(a),” lead study author Dr. Paul Ridker, director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, told Fox News Digital.

“Knowing all three predicted risks not just at five or 10 years, but at 20 and 30 years, gives us a road map for how to target specific therapies for the individual patient, rather than an overly simple ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach,” he said.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a protein made by the liver that rises when inflammation occurs in the body, according to Mayo Clinic. 

High levels of the protein indicate an elevated risk of heart disease.

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LDL cholesterol — also known as the “bad” cholesterol — can build up in the arteries and raise the chances of heart attack or stroke, Mayo Clinic noted.

Lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a), is a type of LDL cholesterol that can also cause plaque buildup in the arteries.

“This is a large, convincing study that puts together three predictive blood tests that haven’t been looked at in this way before.”

Women with the highest levels of LDL cholesterol were found to have a 36% increased associated risk for heart disease compared to those with the lowest levels, the researchers found. 

Those with the highest levels of Lp(a) had a 33% greater risk.

The highest levels of CRP put women at a 70% increased associated risk.

LDL cholesterol, also known as the “bad” cholesterol, can build up in the arteries and raise the chances of heart attack or stroke. (iStock)

Women who had high levels of all three measures were 1½ times more likely to experience a stroke and more than three times as likely to have coronary heart disease, the researchers found.

While most doctors measure cholesterol, very few measure hsCRP and Lp(a), Ridker noted. 

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“It is a truism of medicine that doctors will not treat what they do not measure.”

The fact that a single combination blood test predicted risk 30 years later is “astonishing,” the researcher said.

“It is a truism of medicine that doctors will not treat what they do not measure.”

“It tells us how much silent risk we simply are unaware of, and gives us an opportunity to start preventive efforts far earlier in life,” he added.

Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, was not involved in the study, but said it is a “big step forward” in using a combination of blood tests to determine a woman’s cardiac risk.

“This is a large, convincing study that puts together three predictive blood tests that haven’t been looked at in this way before,” Siegel told Fox News Digital.

Women who had high levels of all three measures were 1½ times more likely to experience a stroke and more than three times more likely to have coronary heart disease. (iStock)

“Since inflammation can cause heart attacks, it is confirmatory that an elevated inflammation marker (CRP) conveys a 70% increased risk for heart disease,” he went on.

“LDL and Lp(a) have both previously shown an increased risk of heart disease.”

Siegel predicts that in the future, blood markers like these will be used in combination with artificial intelligence to determine the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Based on these findings, Ridker recommends that patients ask their physicians to specifically measure hsCRP and Lp(a).

“The time has come for our guidelines to change.”

Some patients will benefit from drug therapies to reduce inflammation and lower cholesterol levels, the researcher said. (iStock)

In Ridker’s experience, women tend to be less concerned about heart disease than men.

“Unfortunately, our traditional screening guidelines rarely identify at-risk women until they are in their late 60s or 70s,” he said. 

“Yet prevention must start in our 30s and 40s for it to be most effective.”

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While prevention efforts should initially focus on a heart-healthy diet, regular exercise, smoking cessation and stress management, some patients will benefit from drug therapies to reduce inflammation and lower cholesterol levels, according to Ridker.

Based on these findings, the researchers recommend that patients ask their physicians to specifically measure hsCRP and Lp(a). (iStock)

The main limitation of the study is that the women who participated were health professionals, the researchers acknowledged.

“Yet in other settings, we know this is also true for men — and, if anything, an even greater concern for minority individuals,” Ridker said.

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The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

A disease transmitted by mosquitoes — the Oropouche virus, also known as sloth fever — has been detected in the United States.

Travelers returning to the U.S. from Cuba contracted the virus in recent months, as reported by The Associated Press. No fatalities have been reported.

The Oropouche virus is endemic in the Amazon basin and has also been reported in South America and the Caribbean.

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More than 8,000 cases were reported globally between Jan. 1 and Aug. 1, 2024, including two deaths and five cases of transmission from mother to fetus, the CDC noted in an Aug. 16 advisory.

Sloth fever has been reported in Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia and Cuba. 

So far, 11 cases have been identified in travelers returning from Cuba and Brazil, the CDC stated.

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“Although travel-associated cases have been identified in the United States, no evidence of local transmission currently exists within the United States or its territories,” the agency said.

“As testing and surveillance for Oropouche virus disease increase in the Americas, reports of cases from additional countries are expected.”

What is the Oropouche virus?

The Oropouche virus first emerged in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955. 

Since then, it has had “limited circulation” in regions of South America, particularly in forested areas, according to the CDC.

The disease is typically spread through bites from mosquitoes and midges (small flies, particularly the Culicoides paraensis species).

Three-toed sloths and birds have been identified as “natural reservoirs” for the Oropouche virus, which means they act as hosts of the disease. (iStock)

Three-toed sloths and birds have been identified as “natural reservoirs” for Oropouche, which means they act as hosts of the disease.

“The virus doesn’t spread from person to person,” Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, confirmed to Fox News Digital.

“There is some risk to the fetus in terms of birth defects.”

Symptoms of Oropouche

Oropouche, classified as an arbovirus, is often mistaken for other similar viruses, like Zika, dengue, chikungunya and malaria, according to the CDC.

Symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, muscle aches, stiff joints and chills.

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Some may develop a rash that begins on the torso and spreads to other body parts.

Symptoms usually begin within four to eight days of being bitten, and last for three to six days.

Symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, muscle aches, stiff joints and chills. (iStock)

“Symptoms can abate and reoccur,” Siegel noted.

In severe cases, patients may develop meningitis, encephalitis or other “neuroinvasive” diseases, the CDC stated.

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For those patients, symptoms can include intense headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, vomiting, light sensitivity, lethargy, stiff neck and involuntary eye movements. 

“Around 4% of patients develop [neurologic symptoms] after the first febrile illness,” Siegel said.

Treatment and prevention

Most people who contract Oropouche will recover on their own without any long-term effects, the CDC stated.

“There are no vaccines for prevention and no treatments,” Siegel said.

The best means of prevention is to avoid bites from midges and mosquitoes, according to experts.

“Patients who develop more severe symptoms should be hospitalized for close observation and supportive treatment,” the CDC stated. (iStock)

“People are advised to take preventive measures, including the use of repellents, clothing that covers legs and arms, and fine mesh mosquito nets, and to take extra precautions during outbreaks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women,” the Pan American Health Organization advised in an alert.

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Supportive care can include rest, fluids and medication to reduce fever and alleviate pain.

“Patients who develop more severe symptoms should be hospitalized for close observation and supportive treatment,” the agency stated.

“As testing and surveillance for Oropouche virus disease increase in the Americas, reports of cases from additional countries are expected.”

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Those who are experiencing symptoms and have risk factors can contact their local health department for testing.

“Clinicians in these areas where importation has occurred may not be familiar with this infection and need to be alert to its possibility,” Dr. Amesh Adalja, M.D., an infectious disease expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore, told Fox News Digital.

Fox News Digital reached out to the CDC for comment.

A growing number of Americans are skeptical of vaccines for COVID and other infectious diseases, according to the most recent national health survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

More than a quarter of respondents (28%) said they believe the COVID vaccines have contributed to thousands of deaths, according to a press release. This is an increase from 22% in June 2021.

Meanwhile, 22% of respondents said they are under the assumption that it is safer to contract COVID than it would be to get vaccinated — an increase from 10% in April 2021.

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Also, 15% of Americans said they believe the vaccine “changes people’s DNA,” up from 8% since the last survey.

The survey gathered input from nearly 1,500 U.S. adults.

“Belief in these three misconceptions is associated with increased reluctance to vaccinate,” said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center and director of the survey, in the release.

The survey also found that only 20% of people are “somewhat or very worried” that they or a family member will be infected with COVID, compared to 25% in February 2024 and 35% in October 2023, the researchers shared.

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The results come just after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s approval of updated COVID vaccines.

“With the CDC reporting that COVID-19 infection remains an ongoing threat and an updated vaccine available, now is the time to ramp up awareness both of the value of vaccinating against COVID-19 and of the risks of contracting the disease,” Jamieson added.

Fox News Digital reached out to the study researchers for comment.

The results come just after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s approval of updated COVID vaccines. (PASCAL GUYOT/AFP via Getty Images)

Dr. Brett Osborn, a Florida neurosurgeon and longevity expert, was not involved in the survey but commented on its findings to Fox News Digital.

“Mainstream narratives continue to emphasize the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, but it’s important to take a closer look at the full picture, particularly when considering the risks and benefits of vaccination versus natural immunity — especially in 2024,” he said.

One of the most publicized risks associated with mRNA vaccines is myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, Osborn noted — particularly in younger males.

“It’s important to take a closer look at the full picture … when considering the risks and benefits.”

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“Although rare, the occurrence of myocarditis is a serious risk, leading to hospitalization and, in some cases, long-term health issues or death,” he said. 

Additional risks include neurological complications, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, and other nervous system-related issues like acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), the doctor said. 

Studies have consistently shown that natural immunity, developed after recovering from an infection, is often more comprehensive and longer-lasting than vaccine-induced immunity, a doctor noted. (iStock)

“While these are not common, their existence is undeniable, and they highlight the need for further discussion about the potential risks of vaccination, especially given the lack of long-term studies,” he told Fox News Digital. 

“After all, these vaccines are only several years old and, therefore, have not been vetted appropriately – so, in essence, Americans are the ‘study cohort.’”

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As far as whether the vaccine changes humans’ DNA, Osborn said that is a myth.

“The mRNA in these vaccines instructs cells to produce a spike protein, which triggers an immune response, and then the mRNA is quickly broken down and eliminated from the body,” he said. 

“There is no evidence to suggest that mRNA can integrate into human DNA.”

The COVID landscape has “drastically changed” since it emerged in 2020, a doctor said. “The current strains of the virus, being RNA-based, have undergone numerous mutations that have generally made them less virulent.” (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images))

The doctor called for transparent communication from health authorities to dispel myths, while also addressing legitimate concerns about the long-term effects of “novel vaccine technology.”

Osborn also pointed out that the COVID landscape has “drastically changed” since the virus emerged in 2020.

“The current strains of the virus, being RNA-based, have undergone numerous mutations that have generally made them less virulent,” he said. 

“This is not about being anti-vaccine, but about making informed, balanced decisions based on the current scientific evidence and the realities of the virus.”

“As a result, for the vast majority of the population — particularly those who are healthy and under 60 — a COVID-19 infection today is more likely to result in mild, flu-like symptoms rather than severe illness or death.”

In light of this, Osborn said, it may be reasonable to question the push for widespread vaccination — “especially when natural infection can lead to robust, long-lasting immunity.”

“There is a big upsurge of COVID FLirt subvariants right now, and the vaccine specifically covers these,” a doctor told Fox News Digital. (iStock)

Studies have consistently shown that natural immunity, developed after recovering from an infection, is often more comprehensive and longer-lasting than vaccine-induced immunity, according to Osborn.

“While vaccines have played an essential role in controlling the pandemic, the evolving landscape demands a nuanced approach that respects individual choice, acknowledges the risks in the context of the benefits, and recognizes the power of natural immunity,” the doctor said.

“This is not about being anti-vaccine, but about making informed, balanced decisions based on the current scientific evidence and the realities of the virus as it exists today.”

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Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, said he recommends the updated COVID vaccines for high-risk groups.

“I believe the vaccines remain effective at decreasing risks of severe disease and long COVID, and should especially be considered in high-risk groups, including those with chronic diseases and the elderly,” he told Fox News Digital just after the FDA’s approval of the new vaccines for 2024-2025. 

“For the vast majority of the population — particularly those who are healthy and under 60 — a COVID-19 infection today is more likely to result in mild, flu-like symptoms rather than severe illness or death,” a doctor said. (iStock)

“Beyond this, it should be a personal choice, a discussion between doctor and patient, keeping in mind that viral load and transmission does decrease somewhat in the period after immunization.”

Regarding the potential side effects, Siegel stated that the risks of the virus — including myocarditis and brain fog — are “far greater,” and that the vaccine decreases those risks. 

“It’s far from perfect, but still quite useful,” the doctor said. 

“I believe the vaccines remain effective at decreasing risks of severe disease and long COVID, and should especially be considered in high-risk groups.”

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“There is a big upsurge of COVID FLirt subvariants right now, and the vaccine specifically covers these.”

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older receive the updated COVID-19 vaccination. That includes women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. 

As of the week ending Aug. 24, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 17% of COVID tests were positive.

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Meanwhile, 2.5% of those visiting emergency departments were diagnosed as COVID-19 — a drop of 1% from the prior week.

The percentage of deaths related to COVID was 2.2%, per the CDC, up from 1.9% the prior week.