Advanced imaging and calcium scans improve cardiovascular risk assessment

Medical professionals are increasingly utilizing advanced imaging and calcium scoring to improve the accuracy of cardiovascular risk assessments for asymptomatic individuals. The NY Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease has announced an expanded approach that moves beyond traditional exercise stress testing. Because stress tests are primarily designed to detect arterial blockages of 70 percent or more, they may fail to identify non-obstructive plaques that can rupture and cause heart attacks. The center is now integrating Coronary CT Angiography with artificial intelligence analysis and advanced cholesterol testing to identify risk markers earlier.

Complementing these clinical shifts, a study published in JAMA suggests that coronary artery calcium (CAC) scans can significantly refine risk estimates for patients in borderline or intermediate risk categories. While CAC scores may add limited value to the general population, research involving participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis shows that for those in the borderline-risk group, the presence of calcium significantly alters their 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). For instance, individuals in this group with a CAC score of 300 or higher saw a 14.3 percent risk rate, compared to just 1.9 percent for those with no detectable calcium.