title: Influence of patients' coronary artery calcium on subsequent medication use patterns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether information on the presence and extent of coronary artery calcium (CAC) is associated with the likelihood of physicians' prescribing preventive therapies.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a longitudinal design, asymptomatic participants (N=510) were evaluated  by computed tomography for CAC. Changes to medications were at the discretion of the patient's primary care provider, who received the CT report.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In multivariable analysis, the likelihood of patients reporting that their primary care physician prescribed preventive therapies  was significantly associated with the presence and extent of CAC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that physicians' prescribing practices are influenced by patients' CAC scores obtained via CT.
authors.affiliation: San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, Joint Doctoral Program in Public Health, San Diego, CA, USA. schwartj@rohan.sdsu.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: Dena E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Rifkin
authors.forename: C Michael
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012306:Risk; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014815:Vitamins; D001241:Aspirin