A zero calcium score with high cholesterol may mean a person is at a lower risk of coronary heart disease. It means imaging does not show a buildup of calcified plaque in the heart’s blood vessels.
Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores show the calcium level in the arteries. CAC levels can help doctors assess the risk of heart disease.
Calcium plays a vital role in several bodily functions. However, it can cause a buildup of plaque in the arteries, which may eventually cause a blockage. Cholesterol can also lead to the formation of plaque, which can build up and cause a full or partial blockage of the arteries.
This article investigates the link between calcium scores, cholesterol, and heart disease risk.
Calcium and cholesterol build up
Having both a high CAC score and high cholesterol levels could increase a person’s risk of developing heart disease, but having one high score does not necessarily mean that a person will have a high score for the other. In fact, a person can have high cholesterol and a zero CAC score.
When both scores are high, a doctor may recommend taking statins to help lower cholesterol levels. A person will likely need to take the medication as a preventive measure for the rest of their life.
CAC testing
A doctor may order a test to check a person’s CAC levels and assess the risk of heart disease. They may refer to a CAC test in various ways:
- cardiac CT for calcium scoring
- calcium scan of the heart
- calcium scan test
- cardiac scoring
- coronary calcium score
A CAC test involves using a CT scan to examine the arteries and blood vessels leading into the heart to check for the presence of calcified plaques. It does not test for or show blockages.
In general, a high cholesterol score — generally a score of ≥190 milligrams per deciliter of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) — alongside a zero CAC score indicates a low risk of coronary heart disease.
In a 2019 study, researchers challenged the notion that having a high LDL-C is independently a risk factor for heart disease and cardiac events. They found that a CAC score of zero, along with a few other factors, puts people living with high LDL-C scores in a low risk group for cardiac events.
A person living with high levels of cholesterol could still have a CAC score of zero. In most cases, a person who receives a score of zero has a reduced risk of developing heart disease.
The American College of Cardiology Foundation’s (ACCF’s) 2018 guidelines indicate that a person who receives a zero CAC score does not need to take statins immediately. They only advise those with a zero CAC score to take statins if they:
- smoke
- have diabetes
- have a family history of coronary artery disease
Studies have shown that a person’s CAC score
A person’s CAC levels will increase as they age, but the expected range will also change based on their actual age. Ideally, a person’s actual age and arterial age will correspond.
The following table shows a breakdown of a person’s average arterial age based on their CAC score:
| CAC | Arterial age in years | CAC | Arterial age in years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 39 (range 32–46) | 100 | 73 (range 71–74) |
| 10 | 56 (range 53–60) | 200 | 78 (range 75–80) |
| 20 | 61 (range 59–63) | 300 | 80 (range 78–83) |
| 30 | 64 (range 62–66) | 400 | 83 (range 79–86) |
| 40 | 66 (range 65–67) | 500 | 84 (range 80–88) |
| 50 | 68 (range 67–69) | 750 | 87 (range 83–92) |
| 60 | 69 (range 68–70) | 1,000 | 89 (range 84–94) |
| 70 | 70 (range 69–71) | 1,500 | 92 (range 87–98) |
| 80 | 71 (range 70–72) | 2,000 | 94 (range 88–100) |
| 90 | 72 (range 71–73) | 2,500 | 96 (range 89–102) |
The closer a person’s actual age is to their estimated arterial age, the more likely they are to fall within the expected range. For example, if a 56-year-old person has a CAC score of 10, they would fall within this range because their actual age and estimated age are similar.
In contrast, a 40-year-old person with a CAC score of 10 has an elevated score because their actual age and estimated arterial age differ. In general, the higher the score, the more at risk the person is of developing coronary heart disease.
What to do if the results are high?
A person should talk with a doctor about their score. People with a score higher than
However, a doctor may not immediately prescribe statins for people with a score between
If a person has a high cholesterol score and a zero CAC score, a doctor will likely recommend no further medical action. Studies have shown that a person in these cases has a lower risk of developing heart disease.
A doctor may still recommend that a person eat a nutritious diet, get regular exercise, and avoid smoking or drinking.
Statins
Statins are a type of cholesterol-lowering medication that can also help protect the heart. The ACCF notes that statins can benefit health by:
- reducing the risk of the arteries hardening
- preventing strokes and heart attacks
- helping prevent death due to heart disease
Statins help prevent the liver from creating LDL cholesterol and may reduce cholesterol levels by more than 50%. They can also help prevent plaque from breaking apart and forming clots that can cause heart attacks and stroke.
In addition to taking statins, people should work with their doctors to develop an eating and exercise plan that will help them reduce their risk of heart disease.
Not everyone needs a CAC screening. The
CAC scoring is not the only diagnostic test that doctors can use to assess a person’s risk of heart disease. They will likely order other tests, such as:
- exercise stress test
- electrocardiogram (EKG)
- chest X-ray
- coronary angiogram
- echocardiogram
- cardiac catheterization
Below are frequently asked questions relating to high cholesterol and CAC scores.
What does a zero score mean?
A CAC score of zero
Do I need statins if my calcium score is zero?
The
A person can have a high cholesterol score and a zero CAC score. When this occurs, doctors generally agree that a person’s overall coronary heart disease risk is low and that the person does not require medical intervention.
A person with an elevated score will likely benefit from taking statins to help reduce their cholesterol numbers. A person should work with a doctor to determine the best course of action once a CAC score comes back.
