Introduction:
Cardiovascular risk factors modification is not often adequately
motivated by the knowledge of elevated risk factors such as high cholesterol or blood pressure.
We evaluate risk factors such as high risk reducing behaviour are
initiated as a result of newly detected coronary artery calcium (CAC) as
quantified using Electron Beam Tomography (EBCT) high risk reducing behaviors
Methods: A total of 453 asymptomatic men and women who under EBCT coronary calcium
scnning completed a follow-up survey
questioning them about health
behaviors since their first scan. Follow-up was obtained, on average, 3.6 years
after the baseline scan
RESULTS:The presence of
coronary calcium was a significant predictor in those persons who subsequentlyly
reported beginning:
a.
Aspirin usage
- 53%
b.
Quit smoking
- 63%
c.
Decreasing dietary fat
- 44%
d.
In creasing exercise
- 53%
e.
Cholesterol–lowering therapy
- 73%
(those with high cholesterol not previously on statin therapy)
All were
significantly greater than those without CAC (p<0.001). New
antioxidant-vitamin usage (45%) was
similar to patients without CAC (44%, p=0.89). compliance with statin therapy in
patients with CAC and known hyperlipidemic
over 3.6 years follow-up was significantly higher than in those without
CAC (84% vs. 46%, p<0.0001). Patients with CAC, on average, started and
maintain 2.5 cardiovascular-risk reducing behaviours after their diagnosis of
CAC.
CONCLUSION: Certain
healthful behaviors, including new cholerserol edication, new, aspirin usage and
smoking cessation are motivated by the n knowledge of having coronary
atherosclerosis as determined non-invasively by EBCT. This suggest that
potentially important risk-reducing behaviour
and compliance with therapies are reinforced by the knowledge of a positive
coronary artery scan.
