Heart Health and Unexpected Risks

Pay attention to your heart—it may have more to say than you realize.

A recent study suggests that results from key cardiovascular tests could reveal your risk of mortality in the coming years, even from causes unrelated to heart issues.

Presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025, the findings indicate these scans may provide insights beyond just heart health.

The study involved researchers from Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City, who reviewed medical records of 40,018 patients identified as at risk for heart disease.

Each participant underwent a PET/CT stress test, which assesses how well the heart is receiving blood. The primary aim? To evaluate calcium-containing plaque in the coronary arteries.

When plaque accumulates, it can obstruct blood flow. Additionally, if this plaque ruptures, it could result in serious events like heart attacks.

Those with a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score of zero likely do not have significant plaque buildup, while a CAC presence is linked to a higher risk of future heart attacks.

From the group studied, 7,967 had no calcium, whereas 32,051 exhibited varying degrees of calcification.

Following these patients over five years, researchers tracked all causes of death and found that individuals with some level of CAC were two to three times more likely to die compared to those without coronary artery calcium.

What’s surprising is that only about 25% of these deaths were attributed to heart disease, indicating that most patients succumbed to non-cardiac reasons.

“It appears that a person’s coronary artery calcium score is a more significant indicator of their overall health than we previously recognized,” commented Dr. Jeffrey L. Anderson, who led the study.

There’s still uncertainty regarding why those with coronary artery calcium have higher overall mortality rates.

Dr. Anderson speculated that arterial plaques might signify plaque buildup throughout the body, which can lead to serious conditions like organ damage or diseases affecting the limbs and neck, increasing stroke risk.

Atherosclerosis, characterized by growing plaque in arteries, may also hinder the immune system’s ability to combat cancer and other illnesses.

To delve deeper, the researchers are planning to explore cases of participants who died from non-cardiac conditions, aiming to clarify the link between CAC scores and overall mortality.

“Understanding why CAC scores predict death beyond heart-related issues could shed light on important health mechanisms,” noted Professor Anderson.

This observation is significant—especially because CAC measurement scans are widely accessible in outpatient contexts. They’re non-invasive, take about 10 minutes, and require no special prep.

If researchers can further elucidate this connection, CAC scores might one day provide more comprehensive insights into a person’s overall health, potentially allowing for earlier medical interventions that could enhance outcomes and even extend lifespans.