Northwestern Medicine study identifies optimal use for calcium scans

New research from Northwestern Medicine suggests that coronary artery calcium scans provide the most significant benefit to a specific subset of patients rather than the general population. The study, published in JAMA, followed more than 6,000 adults aged 45 to 79 over a 10-year period as part of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Researchers compared the effectiveness of the calcium scan—a rapid, relatively inexpensive CT test that measures plaque buildup—against the American Heart Association’s PREVENT risk calculator. While the scan provided only a modest improvement in predicting cardiovascular events for the overall group, it was notably more effective for individuals categorized as having “borderline” or “intermediate” risk (a 3% to 9% estimated risk of disease over the next 10 years).

Dr. Nilay Shah, a senior author of the study, noted that while these scans are becoming more widely available and affordable, they may not be necessary for everyone. For those in the intermediate risk category, the scan can help clarify whether their actual risk is higher or lower than initial estimates based on blood pressure, cholesterol, age, and sex.