TY - JOUR T1 - A way to a woman’s heart might be through her bones JF - Heart JO - Heart SP - 1024 LP - 1025 DO - 10.1136/heartjnl-2021-319265 VL - 107 IS - 13 AU - Dexter Canoy AU - Kazem Rahimi Y1 - 2021/07/01 UR - http://heart.bmj.com/content/107/13/1024.abstract N2 - As foam-cell and lipid-pool accumulates over time, the arterial intimal layer thickens and atheromatous plaques eventually develops, which can potentially lead to tissue ischaemia.1 The progression of atherogenesis can affect the circulation of the heart or the brain, with myocardial infarction and ischaemic stroke among the debilitating consequences. In advanced atherosclerosis, the presence of calcified deposits is an important feature in these atheromatous plaques and it is informative of subsequent risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Various modalities have been used to detect vascular calcification, and the coronary artery calcium (CAC) is a widely used indicator of atherosclerotic burden, thereby, a predictor of future risk of ASCVD.2 Although debate exists regarding the use of CAC as a screening tool to assess and manage ASCVD risk,3 several clinical guidelines have suggested the utility of CAC score to improve risk stratification and guide clinical management, particularly for those who are at low or intermediate risk of ASCVD.4 5 Nevertheless, the cost of assessing CAC is not negligible, and exposure to radiation when assessing CAC using CT scan might be an issue for some.Interestingly, calcification of the arterial tissue has long been recognised … ER -