Abdominal plaque reveals coronary artery disease

Presence of plaque on an abdominal CT scan is a strong predictor of coronary artery disease and mortality, according to a study from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.

Patients had a 58% risk of having coronary artery disease when the CT scan showed very high levels of abdominal aortic calcium, the researchers said. High levels of AAC also increased patients’ risk of dying.

The study included 367 patients who underwent an abdominal CT and cardiac catheterization within one year between January 2004 and May 2009. Patients had a 58% risk of having coronary artery disease with an AAC score higher than 1000 compared with an 11% risk for patients who had an AAC score of zero.

The study was presented March 14 at the 59th annual American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions in Atlanta.