Calcium Score Accurately Predicts Future Heart Disease

A new study reveals that the buildup of calcium in coronary arteries can predict heart disease risk, even among adults with little or no known risk factors.

Researchers at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed; Torrance, CA, USA) conducted a study that examined 5,593 adults with no known heart disease risk or with minimal risk of heart disease, who had undergone coronary artery calcium screening by noncontrast cardiac computed tomography (CT) between 1991 and 2011. The resulting coronary artery calcium (CAC) score showed that among the adults in the study, even those with low scores of 1–99 were 50% more likely to die of heart disease than adults with no calcified plaque buildup (CAC score of zero).

Adults with moderate CAC scores of 100-399 were 80% more likely to die from heart disease, and those with a CAC score of 400 or more were three times more likely to die from heart disease, when compared to adults with a score of zero. The study was presented along with five other studies that also showed that calcium scans appear to be better at predicting long-term heart problems than other available tests, at the annual scientific session of the American College of Cardiology (ACC), held during March 2014 in Washington DC (USA).

“This long-term study builds on previous research conducted at LA BioMed and other institutions that have proven the effectiveness of coronary artery calcium screening in predicting heart disease risks,” said coauthor and study presenter Matthew Budoff, MD. “Normally, calcium scoring is only recommended for patients with known heart disease risks. These findings suggest that calcium scoring can be an effective tool for assessing heart disease risks in adults with no known risk factors so that they can make the lifestyle and other changes that can help them avoid heart disease in the future.”

Coronary calcium indicates the extent to which plaque has accumulated and hardened in the heart’s main arteries, and is an early sign of coronary heart disease (CAD). Although the calcium itself is not dangerous, it contributes to accumulation of plaque in the arteries, and its presence and pattern of accumulation reflects other conditions, such as narrowing of the arteries or an increased risk of thrombosis, which can lead to heart attacks and impaired heart function.

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Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute