CAC Scans Sharpen 10-Year Risk Prediction Only at 3% to 10% PREVENT Levels
Updated
Updated · Radiology Business · Aug 27
CAC Scans Sharpen 10-Year Risk Prediction Only at 3% to 10% PREVENT Levels
3 articles · Updated · Radiology Business · Aug 27
Summary
Two studies tracking just over 6,000 adults for 10 years found coronary artery calcium scores improved heart attack and stroke prediction only when PREVENT placed patients in borderline or intermediate risk groups.
PREVENT alone already captures most risk using routine clinic data, and adding CAC for everyone improved prediction only modestly—about 1% to 2% in screening populations.
A zero CAC score did not reliably rule out future events in some patients whose PREVENT risk was 5% or higher, reinforcing that CAC should not be used to veto statin treatment.
ACC-AHA guidelines issued earlier this year already support using incidental or ordered calcium findings to refine statin decisions for men 40+ and women 45+ with 3% to 10% 10-year risk.
CAC scans typically cost patients $100 to $400 and are often not covered, though calcium seen on CT scans done for other reasons may offer similar predictive value.