National Lipid Association Endorses Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring to Reduce Disease Risk

The National Lipid Association (NLA), which advocates for treatments that mitigate heart attack and stroke risk, has endorsed coronary artery calcium scoring to reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The NLA statement, which is being published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology, updates the organization’s evidence-based guidelines on using coronary artery calcium scoring to support better cardiovascular care.

“Coronary calcium scoring is the best available non-invasive marker for cardiovascular risk,” said corresponding author Carl Orringer, M.D., associate professor of medicine in the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Cardiovascular Division. “This manuscript addresses the key questions that clinicians have about this test and provides up-to-date, evidence-based recommendations for optimal use of this technology for cardiovascular disease prevention.”

Calcium scoring uses a short, no contrast, CT scan to measure arterial hardening. Though generally not covered by insurance, the test is relatively inexpensive, around $100 or less, and provides actionable information for cardiologists and their patients.

“The more calcium people have in their artery walls, the greater their future risk for a heart attack.” said Dr. Orringer. “Even if a person has a family history of heart disease, or appears to be at high risk for other reasons, if their calcium score is zero, over the next 10 years their actual risk is quite low.”

On the other hand, for people who have few risk factors, a high calcium score may indicate they have a much greater risk than might otherwise be indicated. In either case, the test can help delineate the right care for that patient.

The NLA statement illuminates how coronary artery calcium scoring can help gauge a patient’s cardiovascular risk, as well as optimal timing to repeat the scan, testing for patients on statins, and other ways this diagnostic test can boost cardiovascular care. The paper also includes recommendations to help guide clinicians through these treatment decisions.

“As clinicians, our job is to make sure we give patients the right preventive treatments,” said Dr. Orringer. “Calcium scoring helps us determine whether some people we think should be treated are actually over-treated, while some people we think don’t need much treatment are actually undertreated. It’s an extraordinarily valuable test because it provides information to direct the most appropriate care for patients.”

Tags: coronary artery calcium scoring, Dr. Carl Orringer, Journal of Clinical Lipidology, national Lipid Association