Interpretation of the coronary artery calcium score in combination with conventional cardiovascular risk factors: the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).

ABSTRACT:

Background

The coronary artery calcium (CAC) score predicts coronary heart disease (CHD) events, but methods for interpreting the score in combination with conventional CHD risk factors have not been established.

Methods and results

We analyzed CAC scores and CHD risk factor measurements from 6757 black, Chinese, Hispanic, and white men and women aged 45 to 84 years in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). CAC was associated with age, sex, race/ethnicity, and all conventional CHD risk factors. Multivariable models using these factors predicted the presence of CAC (C statistic=0.789) and degree of elevation (16% of variation explained) and can be used to update a "pretest" CHD risk estimate, such as the 10-year Framingham Risk Score, that is based on an individual

SUBMITTER: Pletcher MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3840900 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature