Calcium screening changed some risk measures, but effects on heart events remain uncertain
Among adults without cardiovascular disease, calcium screening produced mixed changes in risk measures compared with no screening or undisclosed results. Evidence about preventing heart events or deaths remained insufficient.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Coronary artery calcium scoring measures calcium in the heart's arteries. Screening was followed by better blood lipid results in some studies, while medication use and health behaviour varied. The review could not establish whether screening prevented cardiovascular events or deaths. Differences in participants and subsequent interventions prevented the researchers from combining results.
Most studies had moderate to high risk of bias. Clinical event data were limited, potential screening harms were omitted, and economic assessments were lacking.
What screening was meant to change
The question was whether providing a calcium score changed risk management, behaviour or clinical outcomes. Actions after screening differed substantially, from sharing the result to starting a statin when calcium was detected.
Why clinical benefit remains unresolved
The studies assessing cardiovascular events and deaths had few events, brief follow-up or limited samples. Their failure to demonstrate an effect leaves uncertainty; it does not establish that screening has no effect.
The original publication
Coronary atherosclerosis screening in asymptomatic adults using coronary artery calcium for cardiovascular prevention: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials and prospective cohorts.
Scheu V, Alwan L, Gräni C et al.
BMJ Open · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40617605
- Record checked
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