One’s “calcium score” is an accurate predictor of heart disease

When most people think of calcium they think about how it strengthens our bones and helps our teeth remain healthy.  It may even be beneficial in weight loss. For the most part, calcium in our bodies is a good thing.  However, new research has shown that calcium deposits in our arteries may be an accurate predictor of heart disease in some individuals.  This calcium build-up is indicative of the accumulation of plaque in our arteries, otherwise known as atherosclerosis.  According to WebMD, the amount of calcium in the arteries is directly related to the amount of plaque present, and the latter can be measured by a calcium score.

This new study stemmed from the fact that although calcium build up is a symptom of coronary artery disease and usually a precursor for an arterial blockage, it is not known whether a calcium score itself can predict if a person will develop heart disease.  Approximately 5,878 participants, ages forty-five to eighty-four, were involved in the study, known as the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.  Researchers used CT scans to evaluate whether the individuals had calcium accumulation in their arteries.  The participants had not been diagnosed with coronary disease at the start of the study and came from various cultural and ethnic backgrounds.  The researchers spent the next six years following up with the individuals, noting any new medical conditions, heart health, hospital visits, and even deaths.    They found that 209 participants had a heart attack, cardiac arrest, or heart disease.

When the researchers examined the CT scans, they were able to accurately identify the individuals who eventually developed heart problems at a rate of seventy-seven percent.  When not using the CT scans and only looking at other risk factors, the identification accuracy fell to sixty-nine percent.  The researchers believe that this score, used with the determination of other risk factors, is a useful tool in predicting whether an individual will develop heart disease.  They did not note, however, whether this ease of detection will improve a person’s quality of life.  Further, they did not condone a CT scan as a routine test for everyone, noting its expense and small exposure to radiation.  It does appear that the researchers are working in the right direction and that more studies will need to be conducted to understand the outcomes of the calcium score on heart disease.  What’s more is that if this scoring eventually becomes the norm, more people may have a concrete diagnosis of heart disease.  This will allow them to get the treatment they need and maybe even the social security disability benefits that they deserve.