UMCG study: CT calcium scores reduce unnecessary cardiology referrals

Research from the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) indicates that using a CT calcium score to assess patients with chest pain can significantly reduce unnecessary referrals to cardiologists. In a study involving 101 general practices across the Netherlands, doctors using the CT scan referred only 43 percent of low-risk patients to specialists, compared to 80 percent in the standard care group.

The scan measures the amount of calcium in the coronary arteries; higher scores indicate a greater likelihood of arterial narrowing. Researchers found no evidence that this approach led to missed serious obstructions, as patients with very low scores experienced no major heart problems during a twenty-month follow-up period.

Beyond reducing hospital visits, the method improved preventive care. In the calcium score group, 36 percent of patients received preventive treatment or lifestyle advice, compared to 17 percent in the standard care group. A national working group is currently developing guidelines to implement this practice more broadly to help reduce cardiology waiting lists.