Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Does The CT Calcium Scoring Test Indicate?
Question: Hi,
my husband is 64 years old. his calcium test score = 116. LMA-0, LAD-91,LCX-8, RCA-17 &PDA-0. he is in great health, works out 3 to 4 times a week. he takes 10mg of lisinopril each day. nothing else. today his cardiologist frightened him by saying he is at high risk for a heart attack. ( a statin was prescribed)
I am wondering--- based upon my research--why he would be considered 'high risk'? the calcium test itself was not suggested by his doctor; my husband asked for this after a friend had a test also.
Robin
thank you for your input. XXXX
my husband is 64 years old. his calcium test score = 116. LMA-0, LAD-91,LCX-8, RCA-17 &PDA-0. he is in great health, works out 3 to 4 times a week. he takes 10mg of lisinopril each day. nothing else. today his cardiologist frightened him by saying he is at high risk for a heart attack. ( a statin was prescribed)
I am wondering--- based upon my research--why he would be considered 'high risk'? the calcium test itself was not suggested by his doctor; my husband asked for this after a friend had a test also.
Robin
thank you for your input. XXXX
Brief Answer:
There is some calcium building up in his coronary arteries
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX kanoff,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. CT calcium scoring is a test be which the calcium present in the coronary arteries is measured and a scored is derived.
2. Based on this score known as Agatston score, a patient is grouped as low, medium, high, severely high risk of cardiac disease
The score is classified as below
0–10 Minimal
11–100 Moderate or intermediate
101–400 Increased or high
401+ Extensive or severe
3. As your husband has a Agatston score of 116 therefore he is in the medium to high risk category. Calcium score from 100 to 400 is intermediate to high risk category.
4. The calcium is building up in his arteries and this might cause significantly reduced blood supply to muscles of the heart. This predicts a high risk of future heart attack.
5. This cannot be predicted by any doctor on clinical examination and these are recent investigative methods which are being used worldwide. The blood levels of cholesterol might not show high values.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
There is some calcium building up in his coronary arteries
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX kanoff,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Please find my observations below.
1. CT calcium scoring is a test be which the calcium present in the coronary arteries is measured and a scored is derived.
2. Based on this score known as Agatston score, a patient is grouped as low, medium, high, severely high risk of cardiac disease
The score is classified as below
0–10 Minimal
11–100 Moderate or intermediate
101–400 Increased or high
401+ Extensive or severe
3. As your husband has a Agatston score of 116 therefore he is in the medium to high risk category. Calcium score from 100 to 400 is intermediate to high risk category.
4. The calcium is building up in his arteries and this might cause significantly reduced blood supply to muscles of the heart. This predicts a high risk of future heart attack.
5. This cannot be predicted by any doctor on clinical examination and these are recent investigative methods which are being used worldwide. The blood levels of cholesterol might not show high values.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
