What Your Heart Scan May Be Missing
Share
Introduction
Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide—and South Asians living in the U.S. are at even higher risk than many other groups. One of the best ways to check for hidden heart disease is a coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan. But until now, we didn’t know what counts as a “normal” CAC score for South Asians. A new study published in JACC: Advances fills that gap and could change how we assess heart disease risk in this community.
What Is a CAC Score and Why Does It Matter?
A CAC score comes from a CT scan that measures calcium build-up in your heart’s arteries. More calcium usually means more plaque, which raises the risk of heart attack. Doctors use the score to decide whether you need preventive treatments, like cholesterol-lowering medications.
However, most CAC score guidelines are based on data from White Americans. South Asians may develop heart disease earlier, and their risk may be underestimated if doctors use the wrong comparison group.
What Did the Study Do?
Researchers combined data from two large groups of South Asians in the U.S.—the MASALA (a community health study) and DILWALE (a hospital-based registry)—to create the first-ever sex- and age-specific CAC percentiles for South Asians.
They studied over 2,700 adults aged 33 to 75 who did not have known heart disease. They calculated the chances of having a CAC score above zero and how scores varied by age and sex.
Key Findings
- Men had a higher CAC score than women at every age.
- South Asian men in their early 50s already had a 60% chance of having a CAC score above zero.
- Women reached that same risk about 10–12 years later, around age 65.
- A CAC score over 100 was above the 75th percentile for a 55-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman.
These percentiles give doctors a better way to understand whether a CAC score is high for a South Asian person specifically—not just in general.
Why This Matters for South Asians
This study highlights that standard CAC scoring may not reflect the true risk in South Asians. By providing age- and sex-specific reference values, doctors can more accurately identify who is at higher risk—and start treatment earlier.
It also supports using CAC screening more widely in South Asian adults, especially men in their 40s and 50s, who may have significant heart disease risk even if they feel healthy.
What You Can Do
If you're of South Asian heritage, here are a few steps to take:
- Talk to your doctor about your heart risk—even if you feel fine.
- Ask whether a CAC scan is right for you.
- Know your family history of heart disease.
- Focus on prevention: eat healthy, exercise, and get regular checkups.
Final Thoughts
This new research provides vital tools for better heart disease prevention in South Asians. By using the right benchmarks, we can spot hidden risk earlier and act before it's too late. If you're South Asian or have loved ones who are, this is one conversation with your doctor you don’t want to delay.