Adults who have any coronary artery calcium at age 40 face increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) events in the next decade, according to a JAMA Cardiology study.

Researchers evaluated some 3000 adults who underwent cardiac computed tomography scans in the CARDIA study. At a mean age of 40, CT scans revealed coronary calcium in 10% of participants. During roughly 12 years' follow-up, nearly 60 CHD events occurred. After multivariable adjustment, participants with any coronary calcium had five times the risk for CHD as those with no coronary calcium. Even calcium scores as low as 1–19 were associated with increased CHD risk (hazard ratio, 2.6), with risk increasing with rising calcium score.

The researchers suggest that in middle-aged adults, cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., smoking status, BMI) could be used to identify those at highest risk for coronary calcium who therefore might benefit from CT screening. They emphasize that universal screening "is not desirable."