Australians at low to intermediate risk of cardiovascular disease should undergo calcium scoring to assess their eligibility for statin therapy, according to a study by leading cardiologists. 

Their results suggested more widespread screening would be cost-effective if statins were initiated in patients with a baseline absolute CVD risk of at least 5% and a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score of ≥100 Agatston units (AU). 

This change could potentially double the proportion of low- to intermediate-risk patients eligible for statin therapy under existing guidelines, which are currently being reviewed.

Lead author Professor Tom Marwick, director of the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne, said the proposed strategy would reduce the number of adverse events and the cost of intervention.