A coronary artery calcium (CAC) score serves as a valuable tool for assessing heart health, offering insights into the presence and extent of calcified plaque in the heart’s arteries. This assessment helps evaluate an individual’s risk for future cardiovascular events. This article explores CAC scores, what they signify, typical scores for 70-year-old men, and the implications of these results for personalized health management.
Understanding the Coronary Calcium Score
A coronary artery calcium score is obtained through a non-invasive computed tomography (CT) scan of the heart. This scan measures calcified plaque within the coronary arteries. Calcium deposits in these arteries mark atherosclerosis, commonly known as hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis involves plaque buildup, which can narrow arteries and reduce blood flow.
The presence of calcified plaque indicates an underlying disease process and can predict future cardiovascular risk. The CAC score, often reported as an Agatston score, quantifies this calcification. Higher scores correlate with more atherosclerosis and a higher risk of heart disease.
What is the Average Calcium Score for 70-Year-Old Men?
Calcium scores increase with age as atherosclerosis progresses. For men aged 65 to 70, the median coronary artery calcium score is around 151. Studies show that for men aged 80.4 years, the median score is higher, around 622, with scores for men aged 75 to 79 observed around 539.
An “average” score for a 70-year-old man does not necessarily indicate a healthy or low-risk status. While many older individuals have some calcification, a high score for this age group still signifies substantial plaque and an elevated risk for cardiovascular events. Almost all men over 70 years of age will have some level of coronary artery calcification.
Interpreting Your Calcium Score
A calcium score helps predict future heart problems. A score of zero indicates no detectable calcified plaque, suggesting a very low risk of a heart attack in the near term. Individuals with a score of zero have a high probability of remaining free from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events for over a decade.
Scores between 1 and 99 indicate mild calcification, associated with a low to moderate risk of coronary artery disease. A score from 100 to 399 suggests moderate plaque deposits and an intermediate to high risk of a heart attack or other heart disease within three to five years. A score of 400 or higher signifies extensive plaque and a high risk of coronary artery disease, indicating a significant burden of atherosclerosis. Scores above 300 are often considered equivalent to established cardiovascular disease.
Next Steps After a Calcium Score
Always discuss your coronary artery calcium score with a healthcare provider. A doctor can interpret the score within the context of your overall health, medical history, and other risk factors to determine the most appropriate course of action.
Lifestyle modifications are often recommended, regardless of the score. These include adopting a heart-healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and stopping smoking. Managing blood pressure and cholesterol levels, often with medication like statins for higher scores, also reduces future risk. In some cases, additional diagnostic tests or medical interventions may be considered, particularly for very high scores, to further assess and manage cardiovascular health.