Role of coronary artery calcification detection in tailoring patient care, personalized risk assessment, and prevention of future cardiac events

Purpose of review We review the utility of coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring in personalized risk assessment and initiation of cardiovascular disease risk modifying therapy. Recent findings Many populations – including South Asians, patients with cancer, patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), younger patients, and elderly patients – were not included during the conception of the current risk stratification tools. CAC scoring may allow clinicians to risk-stratify these individuals and help initiate preventive therapy in higher risk populations. Furthermore, CAC scoring may be able to be integrated into current imaging practices to allow for more ubiquitous and equitable screening practices. Summary CAC scoring is an additional, objective metric that may allow for nuanced and personalized risk assessment of future atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events.