Coronary calcium score zero

[KatieS]

Stavia, so happy for you to score a zero. BTW do you have any calcifications on your mammogram? I have had for decades. From this recent correlation of calcifications on mammography (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/308351.php), seems unlikely I'll score low on our group EBT. Should delay the result until I get back home?

[Gilgamesh]

Stavia, What you say about testing without clinical utility/implications makes a lot of sense to me.

But I do think comparing whole countries as to health outcomes is incredibly tricky. A life-expectancy that's 1.37 years greater says something, to be sure, but it might not say anything about healthcare (unless that's understood so broadly as to include economic status, etc.).

On the other hand, my limited experience with healthcare in your country has been so positive I'd give it a strong thumbs up despite the N=1-ishness of my assessment!

[Stavia]

Katie yes I have some benign speckling. So don't worry yet honey.

G yup you are right. Our colon cancer death rates for instance are too high because we just haven't got enough colonoscopists in the country and we don't have a national colon cancer screening programme. Its just that everytime someone posts their bloods here I'm so amazed by the spread of tests that are ordered, many of them ones I wouldn't have in that person because of their pretest probability of that test being out of range. Different paradigm. But then one cannot sue a doctor here. At all.

[Gilgamesh]

But then one cannot sue a doctor here. At all.

In my little semi-socialist country lawsuits are possible but almost no one sues because so little money is involved. BUT, there is a standard state-run compensation program. I haven't looked into it but all my docs mentioned it (since things went so far south with my surgeries). There's a formula for which body parts lost or damaged are worth what. Havebn't had the emotional energy to look up what I'll get but it will be something. Party on me if I somehow manage to get to the conf. in August.

[Julie G]

(((G))) We want you in August under any circumstance... but hope it's a good one. XO

[Stavia]

(((G)))

[circular]

Just got my 0% score and I'm under age 70 without angina

Unfortunately under percentile for age and gender it says n/a? Is that because it's 0 or because they don't have stats on 56 year old women?

[circular]

This page gives some charts by age for women and men. Not sure if the data is based on in-house results, published research or what, but good enough for me for now.

[MarcR]

Congratulations on your good score, circular. Sounds like you're looking for interpretive perspective for CAC results - I think Ivor Cummins' November 15 talk has a lot to offer in this regard.

As a bonus, near the end he shares his current perspective on the significance of LDL particle count (LDL-P) for those of us who meet none of the five criteria for metabolic syndrome.

30 minutes well spent for me.

[Tincup]

This page gives some charts by age for women and men. Not sure if the data is based on in-house results, published research or what, but good enough for me for now.

Your charts are consistent with data that are presented with EBT scores at the scanner we've used. I recall an sdLDL of 12 for you in the past, which is consistent with your zero score. Keep it up!!