Daijiworld Media Network - New York

New York, Mar 30: A groundbreaking study in the United States is exploring the most effective method for assessing individuals at risk of developing coronary heart disease and determining who would benefit from cholesterol-lowering statin medication.

Researchers at Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City have introduced an innovative strategy that leverages the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score. This score is obtained through a low-radiation computed tomography (CT) scan that detects calcium deposits in arterial plaques, providing a direct measure of heart disease risk.

“Our study has now fully enrolled more than 5,600 participants. In this abstract for the American College of Cardiology, we analyzed baseline characteristics and variations in statin prescribing recommendations,” said Dr. Jeffrey L. Anderson, the study’s principal investigator and a distinguished clinical and cardiovascular research physician at Intermountain Health.

Dr. Anderson highlighted the study’s core objective: “The key question is whether we can improve the selection process for statin therapy in primary coronary risk reduction by utilizing CAC scoring rather than relying solely on traditional risk equations. The goal is to determine whether direct imaging of plaque burden provides a more accurate assessment of risk compared to probability-based calculations.”

This pivotal research was presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Sessions in Chicago on Saturday.

As part of the study, risk assessment scores were communicated to participants’ physicians, along with recommendations on statin prescriptions for those classified as high-risk.

Preliminary findings indicate that while patients in the two study groups exhibited similar baseline characteristics, the frequency of statin recommendations varied, suggesting differences in risk classification based on assessment methods.

The study is expected to conclude in early 2026, at which point researchers will compare health outcomes, including mortality rates, heart attacks, strokes, and revascularization procedures over a follow-up period averaging more than four years and extending up to seven years.

This research is particularly significant given the cost implications and potential side effects of statin therapy, including muscle aches and an increased risk of diabetes.