A big new research of greater than 40,000 sufferers from coronary heart researchers at Intermountain Well being in Salt Lake Metropolis finds {that a} zero coronary artery calcium rating continues to be an correct indicator of a low danger for a coronary coronary heart occasion at the same time as an individual ages. Furthermore, researchers discovered that sufferers with a zero coronary artery calcium rating additionally had a two to a few occasions decrease danger of demise from any trigger at any age, together with in seniors. Credit score: Intermountain Well being
Having a coronary artery calcium (CAC) rating of zero has typically been accepted as a marker of a really low danger of getting a cardiac occasion inside the subsequent 5 years. Nonetheless, age is a robust contributor to coronary danger, with danger growing markedly as folks age.
Whether or not age-related danger components diminish the low danger predicted by a zero coronary artery calcium rating has been unsure—till now.
A big new research of greater than 40,000 sufferers by coronary heart researchers at Intermountain Well being in Salt Lake Metropolis finds {that a} zero coronary artery calcium rating continues to be an correct indicator of a low danger for a coronary coronary heart occasion at the same time as an individual ages.
Furthermore, researchers discovered that sufferers with a zero coronary artery calcium rating additionally had a two to a few occasions decrease danger of demise from any trigger at any age, together with in seniors.
The findings of the brand new research are necessary as a result of as cholesterol-laden plaques within the coronary heart’s coronary arteries age, they appeal to calcium.
“We found that a zero-plaque burden is not only highly prognostic of good heart health at any age, but also of excellent overall survival,” mentioned Jeffrey L. Anderson, principal investigator of the research and distinguished scientific and analysis doctor at Intermountain Well being. “Our findings show that having little or no coronary plaque predicts that people will live longer, healthier lives, including into their golden years.”
A coronary artery calcium rating of zero signifies basically no superior coronary plaques. A rating of 1–99 signifies a light case of plaque, a rating of 100–299 a average case, and a rating of 300 or extra a excessive case.
The danger of a coronary occasion within the general inhabitants typically parallels the coronary artery calcium plaque burden, mentioned Dr. Anderson.
Within the retrospective research, Intermountain Well being researchers recognized 40,820 symptomatic sufferers over a 10-year interval who had been at major coronary danger and who underwent a PET/CT scan, which quantifies superior, calcified plaque within the vessels of the guts.
Of that general group, 8,170 sufferers had a coronary artery calcium rating of zero, with 5,185 of these sufferers underneath age 65, and a couple of,782 sufferers 65 or older. They then assessed coronary prognosis throughout a median follow-up of over 2 years.
Intermountain researchers discovered {that a} zero coronary artery calcium rating was predictive of a really low danger of coronary demise or non-fatal coronary heart assault and of demise of any trigger. These outcomes had been introduced on the American School of Cardiology’s annual scientific classes convention (ACC.25) in Chicago on March 29.
Coronary occasions occurred in solely 0.12% of youthful sufferers and 0.25% of older sufferers, a non-significant distinction. Evaluating general demise or coronary heart assault charges in these with the presence of coronary artery calcium to CAC-zero sufferers confirmed two- to three-fold decrease occasion charges with zero coronary artery calcium scores in each older and youthful age teams, demonstrating the worth of a zero coronary artery calcium rating at any age.
“If you have disease in your coronary arteries, you may also have vascular complications in other organs of your body,” mentioned Dr. Anderson. “Given these results, a zero coronary artery calcium score may also be a predictor of not only very low coronary death but also of a lower risk of other causes of death.”
The subsequent step within the analysis is to additional discover the connection between a zero coronary artery calcium rating and all-cause demise, together with vascular ailments in different organs and even most cancers,” Dr. Anderson added.
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Low coronary artery calcium rating related to wonderful prognosis no matter age: New research (2025, March 31)
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