Predicting Coronary Artery Calcium Using Abdominal Aorta and Visceral Artery Calcification

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Authors

Jared Dixon, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine Medical Student
Sayf Al-Katib, Corewell Health East
Kiran Nandalur, Corewell Health East
Jacob Ghannam, Corewell Health East Resident
Ali Beydoun, Corewell Health
Desiree Clement, Corewell Health East Resident

Description

CAC scoring has emerged as a widely available, consistent, and reproducible means of assessing risk for major cardiovascular outcomes, especially useful in asymptomatic people for planning primary prevention interventions such as statins and aspirin.1 The Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) demonstrated that a CAC score of 0 represents a less than 5 percent 10-year Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. CAC scores 1-299 represent borderline to intermediate risk, and CAC score >300 represents a “high risk” 10 percent or greater 10-year ASCVD risk.2

When used correctly, CAC scoring is a powerful predictor of ASCVD risk and holds the key for many patients to receive appropriate and timely treatment for cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, because testing is recommended only in patients that are asymptomatic for CVD, many of those to whom the screening test would be beneficial never have the test performed.3

This study aims to increase the reach of CAC scoring to a larger population prior to the onset of CVD symptoms by predicting CAC scores using a novel scoring system to grade calcification of the Abdominal Aorta (AA), Celiac (CA), Superior Mesenteric (SMA), and Renal Arteries (RA) discovered incidentally on abdominal non-contrast Computed Tomography imaging. Patients who receive abdominal imaging for kidney stone protocol, abdominal pain, or other reasons may also be screened for ASCVD risk.

In prior studies AA calcification has been well described as predictive of CAC scores4, 5, 6, but to our knowledge no studies have attempted to correlate the AVAC scores with CAC scores. A combination of both scores could be more predictive of CAC than AA scoring alone.

Publication Date

5-2025

Keywords

Coronary Artery Calcium

Disciplines

Radiology

Recommended Citation

Dixon J, Al-Katib S, Nandalur K, Ghannam J, Beydoun A, Clement D. Predicting coronary artery calcium using abdominal aorta and visceral artery calcification. Poster presented at: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine Embark Capstone Colloquium; 2025 May; Rochester Hills, MI.

Comments

The Embark Capstone Colloquium at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester Hills, MI, May, 2025.