Time difference for the presence of coronary calcium in those with and without coronary risk factors and statin use.

Background: Coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis. We aimed to assess to what extent risk factors and statin use modify the time to occurrence of CAC.

Methods: The study population included 3484 patients who underwent CAC score measurements and CT angiography between January 2021 and March 2022. To assess to what extent risk factors and statin use modify the time to occurrence of CAC, a time difference for a 50% probability of having a non-zero CAC score between those with and without these factors was calculated.

Results: The mean age was 52.1 ± 10.9 years, and 43.1% of the population were women. Age was the most important factor for having non-zero CAC (z value 21.84, p-value <0.001). This is followed by male gender (Odds ratio [OR] and 95% CI 3.53 [2.96-4.21]; p < 0.001), and statin use (OR 3.09 [2.41-3.97], p < 0.001). A non-zero CAC develops on average 10.3 years earlier in men compared with women, and 9.1 years earlier in statin users compared with non-users. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and smoking were also associated with earlier occurrence of CAC score, but to a lower extent.

Conclusion: Apart from age, male gender and statin use are the major factors for the occurrence of CAC and are associated with CAC occurrence 9-10 years earlier.