Artery plaque is common even among adults in their 20s and 30s

A study of nearly 17,000 adults in Denmark and Spain found silent atherosclerosis in 57 per cent of participants overall. Among those aged 18 to 29, about 9 per cent of men and 7 per cent of women had some plaque build-up. The results suggest cardiovascular risk begins much earlier than old age for a meaningful share of young adults.

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The investigation enrolled roughly 17,000 symptom-free adults aged 18 to 70 in Denmark and Spain, split into five age bands. Imaging combined CT angiography of coronary arteries with ultrasound of neck and leg vessels. Silent plaque appeared in 57 percent overall—63 percent of men and 51 percent of women. In the youngest band, 9 percent of men and 7 percent of women showed some atherosclerosis; among participants in their 30s, figures were 35 percent and 21 percent.

Earlier Finnish work had detected carotid plaque in about 5 percent of under-30s, but this study examined multiple artery sites across broader age groups. Known risks such as elevated LDL cholesterol, high blood pressure, and family history were more frequent among those with plaque, yet they did not consistently forecast its presence, particularly in younger adults. The authors note uncertainty about whether findings generalize beyond Denmark and Spain.

Count words: First para: The(1) investigation(2) enrolled(3) roughly(4) 17,000(5) symptom-free(6) adults(7) aged(8) 18(9) to(10) 70(11) in(12) Denmark(13) and(14) Spain,(15) split(16) into(17) five(18) age(19) bands.(20) Imaging(21) combined(22) CT(23) angiography(24) of(25) coronary(26) arteries(27) with(28) ultrasound(29) of(30) neck(31) and(32) leg(33) vessels.(34) Silent(35) plaque(36) appeared(37) in(38) 57(39) percent(40) overall—63(41) percent(42) of(43) men(44) and(45) 51(46) percent(47) of(48) women.(49) In(50) the(51) youngest(52) band,(53) 9