Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease in the United States, affecting approximately 20.5 million Americans. Your cardiac calcium score can help you know whether you’re at risk of coronary artery disease. For a cardiac calcium score, anything higher than zero means there is at least some evidence of coronary artery disease, but there are a wide range of acceptable scores where a conservative treatment approach may be appropriate.
What is cardiac calcium scoring?
A calcium score test, also called a coronary artery calcium test or CAC, uses a computed tomography (CT) scan to examine how much calcium is in your coronary arteries. When calcium is found in these arteries, which supply blood to the heart, it shows that you have a buildup of a fatty substance called plaque.
Over time, plaque buildup can narrow your arteries or even block them entirely, disrupting blood flow to the heart. If these blockages aren’t treated, a heart attack can occur.
Who should have a calcium score test?
A medical provider may recommend you undergo a calcium score test every few years if you are between ages 40 and 70 and have a high risk of developing heart disease due to factors such as diabetes, smoking or family history of heart disease. Cardiac calcium scoring may also be recommended for those who are younger than 40 if they’re at a particularly high risk of heart problems.
Where is a calcium score test performed and how much does it cost?
A calcium score test is conducted in a hospital or an outpatient imaging center. It takes only a few minutes, and no special preparation is needed. It is not always covered by insurance. At Georgia Heart Institute, the out-of-pocket cost is typically $96.
What is the normal range for a coronary calcium score?
The calcium score range goes from zero to several thousand. In most cases, medical providers hope for a score of 100 or less.
- Zero: No evidence of coronary artery disease and there is low risk of a cardiac event.
- 100 or less: Mild proof of plaque build up and there is a low risk of a cardiac event.
- 400 or less: Coronary artery disease is present, plaque build up is moderate and there is a mild risk of a cardiac event.
- 400 or more: Coronary artery disease is present, plaque build up is significant and there is a high risk of a cardiac event.
What happens after a cardiac calcium score?
Calcium test results can be used alongside other heart tests to determine a person’s risk of having a heart attack. Your cardiologist may also use your coronary calcium score to determine whether you should begin taking a statin medication to manage your cholesterol.
If your score is concerning, your provider may recommend you undergo a more advanced type of heart test known as a HeartFlow or Cleerly analysis. These tests use images from a CT scan to create a 3D, color-coded model of a person’s coronary arteries, giving cardiologists an unparalleled view of blockages and how they are limiting blood flow.
The results of this type of coronary analysis are then used to help your care team determine how best to treat blockages in the blood vessels of the heart. Depending on the extent of the blockages, treatment may include medications, angioplasty with or without stent placement, or a coronary artery bypass surgery.
Next steps
The Non-Invasive Cardiology Program at Georgia Heart Institute offers a full spectrum of diagnostic tools, including calcium scoring, to learn how healthy your heart is, and what steps you can take to prevent or treat coronary artery disease.
Schedule your cardiac calcium score by calling 770-219-7666 (option 1) or book an appointment with one of our cardiologists today.