Age- and Sex-Specific Distribution and Reference Values of Coronary Artery Calcium in a Large Asymptomatic Japanese Cohort.

BACKGROUND

The clinical use of coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring for risk stratification in Japan is limited by the absence of population-specific reference data, as applying Western-derived thresholds is inappropriate because of known ethnic variations. This study aimed to establish the first comprehensive, age- and sex-specific CAC reference values for a healthy Japanese population.

METHODS

In this single-center retrospective study, we analyzed data from 4891 asymptomatic Japanese adults (63.2% men; median age, 58 years) without a history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Age- and sex-specific CAC percentile curves were generated using nonparametric regression modeling.

RESULTS

Men exhibited a higher CAC burden than women, with scores increasing with age in both sexes. The relationship between detectable CAC (CAC >0) and age was nonlinear: concave down for men and concave up for women, indicating different progression patterns. Compared with MESA (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) data, the Japanese cohort had a markedly lower CAC burden than White participants and systematically lower scores than Chinese American women.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides the first large-scale, age- and sex-specific CAC reference values for a healthy Japanese population. The generated percentile curves offer a practical tool for clinicians to immediately assess a patient's CAC burden relative to their peers, underscoring that using foreign-derived thresholds is inappropriate for risk stratification in Japan.