Researchers used electronic health records from three hospitals in New Orleans and compared adults with and without syphilis. They reviewed many years of data and excluded people who already had cardiovascular disease before the study.
After analysis, the team saw higher risks of several major heart and blood vessel problems among people with syphilis. These problems included aneurysm, different kinds of stroke, heart attack and disease of arteries in the legs. The larger risk appeared mainly when the infection lasted more than a year. Because the study looked back at records, it found an association but could not prove that syphilis caused the problems.
Difficult words
- electronic health record — digital file with a person's medical historyelectronic health records
- compare — look at two or more things for differencescompared
- exclude — leave someone out of a group or studyexcluded
- cardiovascular disease — illness that affects the heart and blood vessels
- aneurysm — a weak, bulging area in a blood vessel
- association — a connection or link between two things
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why did the researchers exclude people who already had cardiovascular disease?
- Why does a study that looks back at records not prove cause and effect?
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