Study: Link Between HPV And Cardio Disease

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – It's well known that the human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer, but researchers say the virus can also cause cardiovascular disease.

A new study of 2,500 women shows a link between HPV and cardiovascular disease. Researchers found an association even with women who didn't have other risk factors like high cholesterol, smoking or diabetes.

Twenty percent of people with cardiovascular disease don't have traditional risk factors. So doctors hope pinpointing new causes will save lives.

Dr. Nieca Goldberg, of the NYU Langone Medical Center, said researchers are trying to identify new risk factors that can lead them to predict heart disease in people before they suffer heart attacks.

About 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV.