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Calcium scans may tip the statin decision for borderline heart risk patients

8/26/2026

Two new trials point to a potential tiebreaker for patients caught in the gray zone on heart disease risk.

A coronary artery calcium scan, meaning a low-dose CT image that detects calcified plaque inside the arteries near the heart, can add clarity when a standard risk calculator leaves the prescription decision open.

Both studies say the answer still depends on the individual patient. The broader debate predates these trials.

When a clinician is trying to predict whether a patient will have a heart attack or stroke, the question is whether they need a number, a picture, or both.

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