Atherosclerosis? Don't forget to check the arterial calcium index!

Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscles, so their atherosclerotic lesions – deposits of lipid plaques and compaction of the vascular wall – significantly increase the likelihood of myocardial infarction. In the United States, coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women.

Plaques on the walls of the coronary arteries contain calcium, so measuring the calcium content in the walls of the arteries using computed tomography is used to assess the degree of vascular damage.

Based on the results of tomography, the arterial calcium index, also called the cardiac calcium index or the Agatstone index, is calculated for patients. The lower this indicator, the better the condition of the patient's coronary arteries.

Scientists from several American universities working under the guidance of Dr. Paolo Raggi have found that this statement is also relevant for people who have reached the age of 70.

The study involved 3,570 men and women (in an equal ratio) aged 70 years and older. All participants underwent cardiac tomography and calculated the calcium index for the coronary artery.

During an average follow-up period of almost 6 years, 838 participants died. As expected, younger participants lived longer than older ones, and women lived longer than men.

However, the coronary artery calcium index was a reliable prognostic factor of death during the follow-up period, regardless of age and other parameters.

In other words, an older person with a low coronary artery calcium score is highly likely to outlive a younger person with a high score.

During the statistical analysis, the researchers took into account deaths from any cause, but they note that most deaths of elderly people are associated with cardiovascular diseases.

The authors believe that when identifying people at risk for cardiovascular diseases, it is necessary to pay attention not only to age, but also to the calcium index of the coronary artery, which will allow appropriate preventive measures to be taken in time. In addition, they emphasize that at any age, the health of the coronary arteries helps to maintain a healthy diet, an active lifestyle and adequate medical care.

Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru based on WebMD materials

30.06.2008