Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Identifying Coronary Artery Calcification on Non-gated Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: August 28, 2018
A Meta-Analysis: Coronary Artery Calcium Score and COVID-19 Prognosis
Kevin Kyungmin Lee1, Osman Rahimi1, Charlie Kyungchan Lee2
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89102, USA.
Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring indicates higher mortality risk in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. CAC scoring can help stratify patients for earlier interventions during severe illness.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring is increasingly studied for its prognostic value.
- Previous research explored CAC scores' correlation with mortality, mechanical ventilation, and ICU admissions.
- The prognostic capability of CAC scoring in COVID-19 patients requires further overview.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the prognostic capability of CAC scoring in predicting mortality, mechanical ventilation, and ICU admission in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
- To synthesize findings from multiple studies on CAC scores and COVID-19 outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive online literature search was performed on PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus.
- Studies published up to November 22, 2021, investigating CAC scores in relation to COVID-19 outcomes were included.
- A meta-analysis was conducted on eight selected studies.
Main Results:
- The presence of CAC was associated with a significant increase in mortality (RR 2.24).
- Higher CAC scores correlated with increased mortality compared to lower scores (RR 2.74).
- No statistically significant differences in mechanical ventilation or ICU admission rates were observed between CAC groups.
Conclusions:
- CAC scoring demonstrates prognostic value for mortality in COVID-19 patients.
- CAC scoring can assist in patient stratification, enabling timely interventions for severe COVID-19.
- Further research may refine the role of CAC scoring in managing COVID-19 patients.
More Related Videos
06:57Author Spotlight: Advancing Cardiovascular Imaging - Introducing the Spatially Weighted Calcium Score for Early Disease Detection
Published on: September 22, 2023
06:16Signal Acquisition, Score Interpretation, and Economics of a Non-Invasive Point-of-Care Test for Coronary Artery Disease
Published on: August 9, 2024
Related Concept Videos
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction
Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies
Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology