What Does a Calcium Score Mean?

A calcium score is a specialised CT scan that measures the amount of calcium in the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle. The presence of calcium can indicate the early stages of coronary artery disease, even before symptoms develop.

This test is often used to help assess a person’s risk of heart attack and can provide valuable information about long-term heart health.

Why Does Calcium Appear in the Coronary Arteries?

Over time, fatty deposits known as plaque can build up inside the coronary arteries. As these plaques develop, they often become hardened with calcium.

The calcium score scan detects these deposits and provides a numerical score, which reflects the overall burden of coronary artery plaque.

Importantly, this process can occur many years before symptoms develop, which is why calcium scoring is increasingly used as a preventative screening tool.

How Is the Calcium Score Measured?

The scan is performed using a CT scanner and takes only a few minutes.

During the test:

• You lie on a CT scanner bed

• ECG leads are placed on the chest to synchronise the scan with the heartbeat

• The scanner takes images of the coronary arteries

  
  

No injections or contrast dye are required, and the radiation dose is very low.

Understanding Your Calcium Score

The result is reported as a calcium score, which reflects the amount of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries.

Typical ranges include:

Calcium score of 0

No detectable coronary calcium. This suggests a very low risk of coronary artery disease over the next 5–10 years.

Score 1–100

Small amounts of plaque may be present. This indicates early coronary artery disease and may prompt lifestyle changes or medical treatment to reduce future risk.

Score 100–400

Moderate plaque burden. This suggests a higher risk of coronary artery disease and usually requires careful risk factor management.

Score above 400

More extensive plaque. Further evaluation may be recommended to assess whether any narrowing of the coronary arteries is present.

Who Should Consider a Calcium Score Scan?

Calcium scoring can be helpful for people who want to understand their cardiovascular risk more clearly.

It may be particularly useful if you:

• Have a family history of heart disease

• Have high cholesterol

• Have borderline cardiovascular risk factors

• Are unsure whether preventative treatments such as statins are necessary

• Want reassurance about your heart health

  
  

The test is generally most useful for people between 40 and 70 years of age who do not already have known heart disease.

What Happens After the Scan?

The calcium score helps guide decisions about prevention.

Depending on the result, recommendations may include:

• Lifestyle measures such as diet and exercise

• Cholesterol-lowering medication

• Further imaging tests, such as a CT coronary angiogram

  
  

For many patients, a calcium score of zero provides significant reassurance about their short-term risk of heart disease.

Why Calcium Scoring Is Helpful

Traditional risk calculators estimate heart attack risk using factors such as cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and smoking status.

However, these estimates can sometimes be uncertain. Calcium scoring provides direct evidence of whether coronary plaque is present, allowing risk assessment to be more personalised.

This makes it a powerful tool in modern preventative cardiology.

Book a Consultation

If you would like to discuss whether a calcium score scan would be appropriate for you, a cardiology consultation can help determine the most suitable assessment for your individual risk profile.

Appointments are available at Spire Murrayfield Hospital with access to advanced cardiac CT imaging when required.