Showing patients images of their subclinical atherosclerosis can drive behavioural change and reduce their overall cardiovascular disease risk, Australian researchers report.

Their systematic review suggests helping asymptomatic adults visualise their CV risk via coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring or carotid ultrasounds leads to modest yet significant 0.91% decline in their 10-year Framingham risk score.

The team — led by Melbourne cardiologist Professor Tom Marwick from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute — said this approach also led to reductions in total and LDL cholesterol by 0.48mmol/L and 0.38mmol/L, respectively.

“This study has demonstrated that patient visualisation of cardiovascular (CV) images within a CV risk discussion is an effective tool in educating and motivating individuals to engage in risk modification,” they wrote in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging.