People with intermediate-risk scores on coronary artery calcium testing who received statins and intensive health coaching experienced less progression of arterial plaque and lower cholesterol levels after 3 years compared with people with similar calcium scores who did not receive a statin, researchers have found.
Previous research suggests that coronary artery calcium testing can detect subclinical atherosclerosis early enough to encourage lifestyle changes that lower cardiac risk, and that providing visual evidence of calcification improves lifestyle choices. The randomized clinical trial, which enrolled Australian adults aged 40-70 years, was published earlier this month in JAMA.
“It’s not simply a test of an imaging tool; it’s a test of a strategy,” said Thomas Marwick, MBBS, PhD, MPH, head of imaging at…