Could lung cancer screenings detect risk factors for heart disease?

Lung cancer screenings with low-dose computed tomography (CT) could be an effective way to also spot risk factors for heart disease, according to a new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).The study, published on Monday, looked at 1,486 patients screened for lung cancer between March 2017 and November 2018 who were part of the High-Risk Lung Cancer Screening Pilot at the Ottawa Hospital. This pilot program, which has since been made permanent, used a low-dose lung cancer screening chest CT to detect lung cancer for participants deemed at a higher risk of lung cancer, such as current or former smokers aged 55 to 74.“Lung cancer screening, although primarily geared towards reducing deaths from lung cancer, also has an opportunity to help tackle the second most common cause of premature death in middle-aged adults, through the identification and risk stratification of coronary atherosclerosis,” the authors wrote.Researchers examined the CT imagery for any presence of coronary artery calcium. Among the cohort, coronary artery calcium was detected in 1,232 cases (82.9%), with high levels found in 439 (295%).The presence of coronary artery calcium is a strong risk factor for heart disease, specifically coronary artery disease, which is the most common cause of cardiac death. “Heart disease is second only to cancer as the leading cause of death in Canada, and coronary artery disease is the most common cause of cardiac death. Thus, if appropriate therapeutic responses are instituted, lung CT findings could affect survival from 2 leading causes of death: lung cancer and coronary artery disease,” the authors wrote. However, the researchers warn that “coincidental detection” of coronary calcification may result in the possibility of “inappropriate investigations.” The authors say more research is needed to on how clinicians should interpret and manage the findings of coronary artery calcium.“While these data are awaited, continued attention to cardiovascular disease prevention is warranted and could be amalgamated into lung cancer screening initiatives to promote health.

Could lung cancer screenings detect risk factors for heart disease?

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