Ionizing Radiation, Even at Low Doses, Imparts Cardiovascular Risk

Excess risk for malignancy associated with ionizing radiation has led to intensive efforts to minimize radiation exposure in medical settings. High-dose thoracic radiotherapy has long been recognized to impart risk for a range of cardiovascular (CV) diseases as well. Evidence has been accumulating that lower doses of radiation also might have adverse CV effects, although these outcomes are understood less well.

In a meta-analysis, researchers analyzed longitudinal data from 93 cohort studies that reported CV outcomes in people with medical, occupational, or environmental radiation exposures. The analysis showed a dose-dependent increase in CV risks across a broad range of radiation doses, affecting overall CV disease, ischemic heart disease,…