Coronary calcium scoring in asymptomatic Indian population: correlation with age, gender and risk factors--a...

The present study was conducted with an objective to assess, quantify and describe a reference value (percentile) of coronary calcium score for the asymptomatic adult Indian population and its correlation with gender, age and risk factors and to review the same with the available literature.

Five hundred asymptomatic subjects/volunteers were taken from the general population for this study. Calcium scoring was done based on modified Agatston scoring on a four-row multidetector CT scanner with ECG gating. Findings revealed that with increasing age there was increase in the calcium score. Males had a little higher CACS (not significant) compared to females for any defined age group. There was a significant continuous graded relation between the calcium scores and prevalence of CAC deposits with the number of risk factors. Subjects without any risk factors (n = 340) showed absence of coronary calcium in 85.3 and with the presence of two or more risk factors (n = 72) the absence of coronary calcification was seen in 13.9% The percentile reference values of CACS as obtained from this study (please see table in text)

This study provides a reference percentile of CACS for Indian population which can be utilized to screen and stratify risk of coronary events in asymptomatic individuals using a non invasive method and thus individuals can be subjected to necessary investigations and risk factor intervention. Limitations in our study - Non availability of lipid profiles, comparison and correlation with angiographic studies and follow up of subjects to evaluate the prospective outcome.