Coronary Artery Calcium Score: the "Mammogram" of the Heart?

Miguel Cainzos-Achirica^{1

2

3

4}, Philip A Di Carlo⁵, Catherine E Handy^{6

7}, Renato Quispe⁶, Gerard Roura⁸, Xavier Pinto⁹, Roger S Blumenthal⁶, Josep Comin-Colet^{8

10}, Xavier Corbella^{9

11

12}, Michael J Blaha^{6

13}

Affiliations

¹ Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA. mcainzos@bellvitgehospital.cat.
² Department of Cardiology, Bellvitge University Hospital and Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 19th Floor, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. mcainzos@bellvitgehospital.cat.
³ School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. mcainzos@bellvitgehospital.cat.
⁴ RTI Health Solutions, Pharmacoepidemiology and Risk Management, Barcelona, Spain. mcainzos@bellvitgehospital.cat.
⁵ Breast Imaging Division, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁶ Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁷ Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁸ Department of Cardiology, Bellvitge University Hospital and Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 19th Floor, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
⁹ Cardiovascular Risk Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Bellvitge University Hospital, 7th Floor, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
¹⁰ Department of Clinical Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
¹¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Bellvitge University Hospital and Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
¹² Hestia Chair in Integrated Health and Social Care, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
¹³ Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

PMID: 29987623
DOI: 10.1007/s11886-018-1020-9

Review

Coronary Artery Calcium Score: the "Mammogram" of the Heart?

Miguel Cainzos-Achirica et al. Curr Cardiol Rep. 2018.

. 2018 Jul 10;20(9):70.

doi: 10.1007/s11886-018-1020-9.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA. mcainzos@bellvitgehospital.cat.
² Department of Cardiology, Bellvitge University Hospital and Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 19th Floor, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. mcainzos@bellvitgehospital.cat.
³ School of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. mcainzos@bellvitgehospital.cat.
⁴ RTI Health Solutions, Pharmacoepidemiology and Risk Management, Barcelona, Spain. mcainzos@bellvitgehospital.cat.
⁵ Breast Imaging Division, The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁶ Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁷ Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD, USA.
⁸ Department of Cardiology, Bellvitge University Hospital and Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), 19th Floor, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
⁹ Cardiovascular Risk Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Bellvitge University Hospital, 7th Floor, Feixa Llarga s/n, 08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
¹⁰ Department of Clinical Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
¹¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Bellvitge University Hospital and Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
¹² Hestia Chair in Integrated Health and Social Care, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
¹³ Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

PMID: 29987623
DOI: 10.1007/s11886-018-1020-9

Abstract

Purpose of review: To discuss the classic analogy of "coronary artery calcium (CAC) as a mammogram of the heart", by evaluating the conceptual strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of a potential cardiovascular disease (CVD) screening strategy using CAC in apparently healthy adults.

Recent findings: CAC is typically used for further CVD risk assessment. CAC is also currently being used as a screening test in specific subgroups of individuals, particularly in some Asian countries. Although this has yielded valuable insights on the determinants and pathophysiology of CVD, whether this approach results in improved clinical outcomes compared to other assessment and management approaches is currently unclear. Although CAC and mammograms share a number of characteristics, there are also important conceptual differences. The evidence supporting CAC, which is a robust CVD risk assessment tool, for CVD screening purposes is currently very limited, and further research is needed.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease; Coronary artery calcium; Mammogram; Risk assessment; Screening.

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References

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Coronary Artery Calcium Score: the "Mammogram" of the Heart?

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Coronary Artery Calcium Score: the "Mammogram" of the Heart?

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