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health6h ago
Intermountain Study Finds Coronary Artery Calcium May Be a Predictor for All-Cause Mortality, Including Medical Conditions Not Related to Heart Health
- Intermountain Health analyzed 40,018 patient records at risk for heart disease who had PET/CT stress tests.
- Any CAC presence tripled the risk of dying from any cause over five years compared with zero CAC.
- Most deaths among CAC patients were not due to cardiovascular disease, prompting new questions on CAC’s broader health link.
- Researchers presented findings at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025 in New Orleans.
- CAC score may reflect plaque in other vessels or general health status, beyond heart risk.
- Study followed patients for five years to compare CAC zero versus any CAC.
- The team plans to study non-cardiovascular deaths to uncover mechanisms behind CAC’s broader prognostic value.
- Researchers say CAC may have prognostic value beyond heart-related outcomes.
- Study included 40,018 patients treated within Intermountain Health system.
- CAC scoring used as a predictor for overall health status, not just heart risk.
- Researchers aim to understand links to non-cardiovascular deaths and mechanisms.
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