Higher calcium levels may predict risk of heart disease: Study
| Jan 13, 2019, 13:50 IST
A new study has found that the risk of cardiovascular disease is high when the heart's artery walls contain small amounts of calcium. The risk is particularly high for South Asian men.
South Asians make up close to 60 percent of cardiovascular disease patients across the globe as they are more prone to the health issue.
The build-up of coronary artery calcification (CAC) can cause blood vessels to narrow which can cause heart disease.
The results showed South Asian men had the same rates of change in calcification of their artery walls over a five-year span. The team further explained that they are also more likely to develop diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol at an early age.
The rates of calcification also differed for men and women. South Asia men were found to have 8. 8 percent, while women had 3.6 percent.
"The presence and change of coronary artery calcium may be useful for risk prediction in this ethnic population and may better guide the judicious use of statin and other preventive therapies," lead author Alka Kanaya, Professor at UCSF, told a news portal.
A computed tomography (CT) scan can detect the early sign of CAC, in which calcium appears in the artery.
South Asians make up close to 60 percent of cardiovascular disease patients across the globe as they are more prone to the health issue.
The build-up of coronary artery calcification (CAC) can cause blood vessels to narrow which can cause heart disease.
The results showed South Asian men had the same rates of change in calcification of their artery walls over a five-year span. The team further explained that they are also more likely to develop diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol at an early age.
The rates of calcification also differed for men and women. South Asia men were found to have 8. 8 percent, while women had 3.6 percent.
"The presence and change of coronary artery calcium may be useful for risk prediction in this ethnic population and may better guide the judicious use of statin and other preventive therapies," lead author Alka Kanaya, Professor at UCSF, told a news portal.
A computed tomography (CT) scan can detect the early sign of CAC, in which calcium appears in the artery.