Cardiologist Questions Cardiology

CAC scoring

I am 56, white female. HTN treated well with lisinopril 10/12.5, lipid profile with total cholesterol 205, LDL 130, others all normal. I am slightly overweight, 185 lbs. no family history of heart disease, asymptomatic . So, sent for CAC scoring, absolute score was 77, but percentile score was 90th percentile. Should I be treated with a stain and asa as misted by my pcp, or diet and exercise, increasing vitamin K2?

Female | 56 years old

3 Answers

CardiologistCardiology
I am assuming in my response that you are not a smoker and have not smoked for at least 15 years. I also am assuming that you are post menopausal but that your menopause was at a normal age. I am also assuming you do not have diabetes. Given all that there is no need for aspirin. I think if you can diet and exercise for a few months and check your lipid profile again, that would be a good idea. If your LDL remains significantly above 100 you can decide if you want to take a low dose of a statin. Probably 10mg of atorvastatin or rosuvastatin would get your LDL under 100 with no side effects. Thats what I would recommend but this is not an absolute recommendation. It is your decision. I am not sure what Vitamin k2 has to do with this. Lots of anti-oxidants are important and most women are advised to take Vit D3 and Calcium but that is also a matter to discuss with your doctor.
You are building plaque in your coronary arteries that has been there long enough to calcify. I recommend stain therapy to lower your LDL cholesterol below 100. Diet and exercise are important as well. I do not see the benefit of aspirin at this point unless you are diabetic or have a family history of premature coronary artery disease. No real evidence vitamin k2 does very much.
Positive calcium score means there is a plaque on the coronary and definitely need statins with target LDL below 70
Aspirin not indicated