Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 13, 2026

Pulse-Wave Velocity, Flow-Mediated Dilation, and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness to Assess Cardiovascular Risk in Population with Metabolic Syndrome
06:04

Pulse-Wave Velocity, Flow-Mediated Dilation, and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness to Assess Cardiovascular Risk in Population with Metabolic Syndrome

Published on: September 27, 2024

Coronary artery calcium screening in persons with metabolic syndrome and diabetes: implications for prevention

David M Tehrani1, Shaista Malik, Nathan D Wong

  • 1Heart Disease Prevention Program, Division of Cardiology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.

Metabolic Syndrome and Related Disorders
|February 27, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) screening effectively identifies subclinical coronary heart disease (CHD) in individuals with diabetes and metabolic syndrome. CAC scoring helps stratify risk, guiding more intensive therapies for high-risk patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Diabetes and metabolic syndrome are significant risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD).
  • Traditional risk assessment often fails to identify many patients experiencing CHD events.
  • Early detection of subclinical CHD is crucial for identifying high-risk individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role and benefits of coronary artery calcium (CAC) screening.
  • To focus on the application of CAC screening in individuals with metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus.
  • To evaluate CAC screening for assessing CHD risk in these specific populations.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing studies on CAC screening.
  • Analysis of evidence regarding CAC extent and CHD risk in patients with and without metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus.
  • Examination of updated guidelines for CAC screening in diabetes mellitus.

Main Results:

  • The presence and extent of CAC are generally greater in individuals with diabetes and metabolic syndrome compared to those without.
  • CHD risk significantly varies based on CAC extent in both individuals with and without these conditions.
  • CAC screening aids in categorizing patients with intermediate and high CHD risk.

Conclusions:

  • CAC screening offers added utility for CHD risk assessment, particularly in patients with metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus.
  • CAC scoring helps stratify patients who may benefit from more intensive therapeutic interventions.
  • Guidelines now support CAC screening for diabetes mellitus patients to refine risk stratification.

More Related Videos

Semi-Automatic Graphical Tool for Measuring Coronary Artery Spatially Weighted Calcium Score from Gated Cardiac Computed Tomography Images06:57

Semi-Automatic Graphical Tool for Measuring Coronary Artery Spatially Weighted Calcium Score from Gated Cardiac Computed Tomography Images

Published on: September 22, 2023

Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans04:40

Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans

Published on: August 28, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT01:25

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT

Calcium-Scoring CT ScanA calcium-scoring CT scan, also known as coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan, detects calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. This test assesses the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to cardiovascular events such as angina, heart failure, and sudden cardiac arrest.A calcium-scoring CT scan is generally recommended for individuals at intermediate risk of CAD without symptoms. It includes:Men aged 40-75 and women aged 50-75: Especially those with a...
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): An Overview with Scientific InsightsCoronary Artery Disease (CAD), often referred to as C-A-D, is a prevalent blood vessel disorder classified under the broader category of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a pathological process characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques are composed of cholesterol, fatty substances, inflammatory cells, calcium, and fibrin, reducing blood flow to...
Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures01:26

Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures

Effective preventive measures for coronary artery disease (CAD) focus on controlling modifiable risk factors, including cholesterol abnormalities and lifestyle changes.Cholesterol ManagementFirst, the Mediterranean diet and the American Heart Association advocate for maintaining low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels below 100 mg/dL, with a more stringent recommendation of below 70 mg/dL for individuals at high risk. LDL cholesterol, often termed "bad cholesterol," can lead to the...
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology01:26

Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) originates from a series of events that impair the function of coronary arteries, the blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. The pathophysiology of CAD is closely linked to atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory and lipid-driven condition affecting the vascular endothelium.1. Endothelial DamageThe process begins with damage to the vascular endothelium, which serves as a protective barrier between the blood and the vessel...
Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests01:27

Atherosclerosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Tests

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder that leads to the thickening and narrowing of arterial walls due to plaque buildup. This condition can cause various symptoms depending on the arteries affected:Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): This condition affects the coronary arteries and may lead to chest pain (angina), shortness of breath (dyspnea), heart attacks, and other heart disease symptoms.Cerebrovascular Disease: This affects blood flow to the brain, causing transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)...
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT01:28

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) scanning is an advanced cardiac imaging technique that utilizes CT technology, with or without intravenous (IV) contrast, to produce accurate cross-sectional virtual slices of specific areas of the heart, coronary circulation, and major blood vessels such as the aorta, pulmonary veins, and arteries. The computer processes these slices to generate three-dimensional images. Multidetector CT (MDCT) is a rapid form of CT scanning that captures multiple slices...