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CHICAGO, IL – A significant new study has revealed that a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score of zero remains a powerful indicator of low cardiac risk and improved overall survival, regardless of a person’s age. This finding challenges the notion that age-related risk factors might diminish the protective effect of a zero CAC score.
Researchers at Intermountain Health presented their findings at the American College of Cardiology’s annual scientific sessions conference (ACC.25) in Chicago on March 29th. The study, involving over 40,000 patients, found that a zero CAC score was consistently associated with a very low risk of coronary death or non-fatal heart attack, as well as a two to three times lower risk of death from any cause, even among seniors.
The CAC score is a measure of calcium-containing plaque in the coronary arteries, which are the vessels that supply blood to the heart. A score of zero indicates essentially no advanced plaque, while higher scores indicate increasing levels of plaque and thus, higher risk.
“We found that a zero-plaque burden is not only highly prognostic of good heart health at any age, but also of excellent overall survival,” said Jeffrey L. Anderson, principal investigator of the study and distinguished clinical and research physician at Intermountain Health. “Our findings show that having little or no coronary plaque predicts that people will live longer, healthier lives, including into their golden years.”
The researchers analyzed data from 40,820 symptomatic patients who underwent a PET/CT scan over a 10-year period. Of these, 8,170 patients had a CAC score of zero, with a breakdown of 5,185 patients under 65 and 2,782 patients 65 or older. During an average follow-up of over two years, coronary events occurred in only 0.12% of younger patients and 0.25% of older patients, demonstrating a non-significant difference.
The study also highlighted the significant difference in overall death rates between those with any detectable calcium and those with a zero score. “If you have disease in your coronary arteries, you may also have vascular complications in other organs of your body,” said Dr. Anderson. “Given these results, a zero coronary artery calcium score may also be a predictor of not only very low coronary death but also of a lower risk of other causes of death.”
The Intermountain Health team plans to further investigate the relationship between a zero CAC score and all-cause mortality, including vascular diseases in other organs and cancer.
Disclaimer: This news article is based on the information provided and should not be taken as medical advice. Individuals should consult with their healthcare provider for personalized medical guidance and to discuss their specific health concerns. The information presented is based on a single study, and further research may be needed to confirm these findings.
