2 hrs ago

Coronary Calcium Scores Reveal Risk, Not Artery Blockage

A calcium scan looks for hardened calcium inside the heart arteries.

Calcium usually forms as part of plaque buildup.

A high score means a person may have a higher risk of heart disease, but it does not say exactly how blocked an artery is.

For example, one patient had a very high score but only small blockages.

Another patient had a score of zero but a serious blockage made from plaque without much calcium.

This means a zero score does not always prove that the arteries are clear.

CT coronary angiography can look for both hardened and softer plaque and can show narrowing.

Doctors also consider symptoms, diabetes, cholesterol, age, and other risks.

Calcium in the arteries is not simply caused by eating too much calcium or taking vitamin D.

Key facts

Calcium score of zero: Indicates no detected calcified plaque, but does not rule out non-calcified plaque or significant disease.
High calcium score: A score above 400 is described as high and is associated with greater cardiovascular risk.
Score around 900: One patient had this score but only relatively minor blockages that did not require stenting.
90% blockage: A 38-year-old man with diabetes had this narrowing despite a calcium score of zero.
Calcium-score scan: Detects and quantifies calcified deposits in the coronary arteries.
CT coronary angiography: Can visualize coronary plaque, including non-calcified plaque, and assess artery narrowing.
Treatment decisions: Statin or aspirin use depends on the person's symptoms, risk factors, age, diabetes status, cholesterol, and clinical assessment.

indianexpress.com · 3 hrs ago