New data presented on the use of coronary artery calcium for cardiovascular risk assessment
The CorCal Outcomes trial presented at the ESC Congress 2026 found no significant difference in cardiovascular events between patients screened using coronary artery calcium (CAC) scans versus traditional risk factor assessments. The study highlights a persistent gap in identifying high-risk patients for statin therapy.
Why it matters
This research challenges current clinical practices for cardiovascular risk assessment and suggests that advanced imaging may not be superior to traditional methods for initial statin prescription.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add as preferred source Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain There was no difference in major cardiovascular events when statin initiation was based on coronary artery calcium compared with traditional risk factor assessment, according to results presented in a Hot Line session today at ESC Congress 2026 .
Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The leading contributor to the cardiovascular disease burden is atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), which includes coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke. Key modifiable risk factors for ASCVD include smoking, diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol levels.
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