Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the contribution of calcium scoring to Framingham score in determining the risk of coronary artery disease. Materials and Methods: Our study was done between January 2011 and October 2012 on 280 patients who have been referred for calcium scoring from cardiology clinic for different reasons. The Framingham and calcium scores were calculated. The correlation was evaluated with kappa test and Kendall correlation. The parametric data were evaluated with Mann-Whitney U test and nonparametic data with chi-square test. Findings: Framingham score classified 127 patients in low, 110 patients in medium and 43 patients in high risk group. In 133 patients, the calcium score was below 10 (low risk), in 103 patients between 10 to 100 (medium risk) and in 44 patients over 100 (high-very high risk). In 16 patients classified as medium risk with Framingham score, calcium scoring revealed low risk and in 13 patients high-very high risk. In 14 patients classified as low risk with Framingham score, calcium scoring yielded medium risk and in 12 patients classified as high risk with Framingham score, calcium scoring showed low-medium risk. In 55 patients, calcium scoring provided additional prognostic information. A positive correlation was found between Framingham score and calcium score. Hypertension, age, hyperlipidemia and diabetes were found to result statistically significant increase in calcium score. Age and hyperlipidemia were found to be the most significant parameters. Conclusion: When used with risk scoring methods depending on conventional risk factors, calcium scoring may help risk modification by providing additional prognostic information.