Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: August 28, 2018
Coronary artery calcification by computed tomography in epidemiologic research and cardiovascular disease prevention
Akira Sekikawa1, J David Curb, Daniel Edmundowicz
1Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. akira@pitt.edu
Insights
Coronary artery calcification (CAC) effectively screens intermediate-risk individuals for coronary heart disease (CHD). International studies confirm CAC
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Epidemiology
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is recommended by US and European guidelines for screening asymptomatic individuals at intermediate risk for coronary heart disease (CHD).
- Existing recommendations primarily stem from epidemiologic studies conducted in the United States.
- This review focuses on the utility of CAC in primary prevention and its epidemiologic significance globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of CAC in primary prevention of CHD within the United States.
- To examine epidemiologic studies of CAC in asymptomatic adults outside the US.
- To analyze international epidemiologic studies of CAC and its role in understanding population differences in atherosclerosis.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing epidemiologic studies on Coronary Artery Calcification (CAC) in asymptomatic individuals.
- Analysis of data from the Electron-Beam Tomography, Risk Factor Assessment Among Japanese and US Men in the Post-World-War-II birth cohort (ERA JUMP) Study.
- Synthesis of findings regarding CAC's predictive value and its comparison across diverse ethnic populations.
Main Results:
- US studies demonstrate CAC as a strong independent predictor of CHD across various demographics and health statuses, crucial for risk reclassification.
- European studies corroborate the findings from US research regarding CAC's predictive power.
- The ERA JUMP study revealed significant differences in atherosclerotic burden, with lower levels in Japanese compared to whites, and similar or higher levels in Japanese Americans.
Conclusions:
- Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a valuable tool for screening asymptomatic individuals at intermediate risk for coronary heart disease (CHD).
- International research, like the ERA JUMP study, highlights population-specific differences in atherosclerotic burden, offering insights into prevention.
- Further research utilizing CAC can identify factors contributing to disparities in CHD, potentially improving global prevention strategies.
Abstract:
Both American and European guidelines recommend coronary artery calcification (CAC) as a tool for screening asymptomatic individuals at intermediate risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). These recommendations are based on epidemiologic studies mostly in the United States. We review (1) the use of CAC in primary prevention of CHD in the United States, (2) epidemiologic studies of CAC in asymptomatic adults outside of the United States, and (3) international epidemiologic studies of CAC. This review will not consider clinical studies of CAC among patients or symptomatic individuals. US studies have shown that CAC is a strong independent predictor of CHD in both sexes among middle-aged and old age groups, various ethnic groups, and individuals with and without diabetes and that CAC plays an important role in reclassifying individuals from intermediate to high risk. Studies in Europe support these conclusions. The Electron-Beam Tomography, Risk Factor Assessment Among Japanese and US Men in the Post-World-War-II birth cohort (ERA JUMP) Study is the first international study to compare subclinical atherosclerosis, including CAC among Japanese, Japanese Americans, Koreans, and whites. It showed that as compared with whites, Japanese had lower levels of atherosclerosis, whereas Japanese Americans had similar or higher levels. CAC is being increasingly used as a screening tool for asymptomatic individuals in Europe and the United States. CAC is a powerful research tool, because it enables us to describe differences in atherosclerotic burden across populations. Such research could identify factors responsible for differences among populations, which may improve CHD prevention.
More Related Videos
06:57Semi-Automatic Graphical Tool for Measuring Coronary Artery Spatially Weighted Calcium Score from Gated Cardiac Computed Tomography Images
Published on: September 22, 2023
11:30A Semi-Automated and Reproducible Biological-Based Method to Quantify Calcium Deposition In Vitro
Published on: June 2, 2022
Related Concept Videos
01:25Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
01:28Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
01:26Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
01:20Imaging 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...
01:30Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
01:26Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology