Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Calcification of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Imaging of Aortic Calcification and Inflammation
Published on: May 31, 2016
Coronary artery calcification in older adults to age 99: prevalence and risk factors
A B Newman1, B L Naydeck, K Sutton-Tyrrell
1Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. anewman@pitt.edu
Background:
Coronary artery calcification has been proposed as a noninvasive method to assess cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, the prevalence and risk factors for coronary artery calcification in populations >65 years have not been well studied.
Methods And Results:
Electron beam tomography was performed to assess coronary artery calcium (CAC) in 614 older adults aged, on average, 80 years (range, 67 to 99 years); 367 (60%) were women, and 143 (23%) were black. Calcium scores ranged from 0 to 5459. Median scores were 622 for men and 205 for women. Scores increased by age and were lower in blacks than in whites. Nine percent of subjects (n=57) had no CAC, and 31% (n=190) had a score lower than 100. A history of CVD was associated with calcium score. Age, male sex, white race, CVD, triglyceride level, pack-years of smoking, and asthma, emphysema, or bronchitis (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) were independently associated with CAC score in the fourth quartile.
Conclusions:
A wide range of CAC scores was observed, suggesting adaptation with aging. CAC may have potential to predict CVD in older adults, but this remains to be determined.
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System III: X-Ray
Definition and Purpose
An X-ray, or radiograph, is a non-invasive method that uses ionizing radiation to take images of internal structures. It is mainly used in cardiac imaging to examine the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels, aiming to identify abnormalities in the heart's size, shape, and position, such as heart failure, congenital defects, and vascular...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology
Coronary Artery Disease III: Clinical Manifestations
Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures

