title: Discrepancy between coronary artery calcium score and HeartScore in middle-aged Danes: the DanRisk study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is an independent and incremental risk marker. This marker has previously not been compared to the HeartScore risk model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random sample of 1825 citizens (men and women, 50 or 60 years of age) was invited for screening.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the HeartScore model, the 10-year risk of fatal cardiovascular events based on gender, age, smoking, systolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol was estimated. A low risk was defined as <5%. The CAC score was calculated from a non-contrast enhanced cardiac-CT scan and given in Agatston U.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1257 (69%) of the invited subjects were interested in the screening. Due to previous cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus, 101 were excluded. Of the remaining 1156, 47% were men and 53% women; one half were 50 years old and the other half 60 years old. A low HeartScore was found in 901 of which 334 (37%) had CAC. A high HeartScore was recorded in 251 of which 80 (32%) did not have any CAC. High HeartScores and CAC were significantly more common in males than females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CAC is common in healthy middle-aged Danes with a low HeartScore, and, on the contrary, high-risk subjects very frequently do not have CAC. The therapeutic and prognostic implications of these observations remain to be clarified.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark. axel.diederichsen@ouh.regionsyddanmark.dk
authors.forename: Axel C P
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Diederichsen
authors.forename: Niels Peter
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Sand
authors.forename: Bjarne
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nørgaard
authors.forename: Jess
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lambrechtsen
authors.forename: Jesper Møller
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Munkholm
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Oke
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gerke
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Egstrup
authors.forename: Mogens Lytken
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Poul F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Høilund-Carlsen
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mickley
mesh_terms: D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000401:mortality