Understanding Cardiovascular Risk and Coronary Artery Calcium Scores: What You Need to Know
Maintaining a healthy heart is one of the most important steps you can take for long-term wellbeing. At Medsana, part of your regular health check-up includes a cardiovascular risk assessment, which helps us identify your risk of developing heart disease—often before symptoms appear.
In this article, we explain how cardiovascular risk is assessed in primary care, what a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score is, and when this test may be recommended.
What Is Cardiovascular Risk?
Cardiovascular risk refers to your likelihood of experiencing a heart-related event—like a heart attack or stroke—based on a range of personal and health-related factors. Risk increases with age and is influenced by lifestyle, family history, and underlying health conditions.
At Medsana, we use the Australian Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Calculator, updated in 2023, to estimate your five-year risk of a cardiovascular event. You can try it yourself at www.cvdcheck.org.au, but you may need some help from us for blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
This tool evaluates:
– Age and sex
– Blood pressure
– Cholesterol levels
– Smoking status
– Diabetes or kidney disease
– Your postcode, which may reflect broader health and lifestyle risk factors
– Lifestyle changes (like diet and exercise)
– Referrals to allied health providers including dietitian and exercise physiologists
– Cholesterol-lowering or blood pressure medications
– Ongoing monitoring
– Referral to a cardiologist for a more in-depth assessmentWhat Is a Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) Score?
From time to time, patients ask us about the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, a test you may have heard about in the media or online. This test involves a low-dose CT scan of the chest that measures the amount of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries – the vessels that supply blood to your heart.
This test:
– Uses a low-dose CT scan
– Does not require contrast dye
– Provides a numerical score (the Agatston score) indicating the extent of calcium buildup
The higher the score, the greater the likelihood of coronary artery disease, even if you have no symptoms.
When Should You Consider a CAC Scan?
The CAC score is particularly helpful for people who fall into the intermediate-risk category on the CVD risk calculator—where it’s not clear whether treatment (like starting statins) is necessary.
We may recommend a CAC scan if:
– You are aged 40–75
– You have borderline or intermediate cardiovascular risk
– You don’t have a clear need for medication, but a CAC score could guide that decision
We generally only recommend the scan if the result is likely to change your management plan. This is because there are clear limitations of the CAC score. The test cannot detect soft plaque that has not calcified and it cannot evaluate how narrow your arteries are – calcified or non-calcified plaque. There is also no Medicare rebate for this test at this stage, so patients will need to cover the cost themselves.
At Medsana, we help you weigh the benefits and costs to decide if the scan is appropriate both clinically and financially.
Why Preventing Heart Disease Matters
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death in Australia, yet many people at risk remain unaware until a major event occurs. By identifying asymptomatic individuals who may be at risk, we can intervene earlier and greatly improve health outcomes. If you’re over 45—or over 30 if you’re Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander – talk to us about a cardiovascular check. Early assessment of cardiovascular risk, using tools like the Australian CVD risk calculator and CAC scoring where appropriate, can make all the difference.
At Medsana, we’re here to help you take control of your heart health. Book an appointment today to start your personalised cardiovascular risk assessment.