Skip to Content
About Abbott
Contact
United States | eng
Country Language
CARDIOVASCULAR
United States | eng
Country Language

TECTONIC CAD IVL IDE Study

TECTONIC CAD IVL IDE Study
What is CAD

What is Coronary Artery Disease and Coronary Artery Calcification?

Coronary artery disease happens when the arteries that supply blood to your heart become narrow or blocked.

This is often caused by a condition called atherosclerosis, where plaque (a mix of fat, cholesterol, and calcium) builds up in the arteries. When this plaque hardens, it can restrict blood flow and oxygen to the heart. Atherosclerosis is one of the main causes of coronary artery disease, and advanced atherosclerosis is typically associated with calcium buildup in the coronary arteries.1  Coronary artery disease and stenosis develop when plaque builds up in the vessels and blocks blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart. Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease.2  Calcium buildup in the coronary arteries is associated with the incidence of coronary artery disease and is a direct measure of atherosclerotic disease. It can also serve as an indicator of coronary artery disease mortality. 3,4

A common method to open blocked coronary arteries is percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also called revascularization. Many people with coronary artery disease require a stent to keep the coronary arteries open once blood flow has been restored. However, placing a stent can be difficult in a coronary artery that is blocked by calcium buildup. Therefore, vessel preparation to break up the calcium may be needed before placing the stent.

Coronary artery disease

Who is affected by the disease?

Calcium buildup in the coronary arteries can vary based on an individual’s background. Here are some key points:

  • Black men tend to have less calcium buildup in their coronary arteries compared to White men.5
  • Black women tend to have more calcium buildup in their coronary arteries compared to women of other races and ethnicities.6
  • Compared to White individuals, Chinese, Hispanic, and Black individuals generally have a lower risk of calcium buildup in their coronary arteries.7
    • Even though Black individuals tend to have less calcium buildup in their coronary arteries compared to White individuals, they are more likely to experience a cardiovascular event like a heart attacks or chest pain.8

References

  1. Onnis, C., et al., Coronary Artery Calcification: Current Concepts and Clinical Implications. Circulation, 2024. 149(3): p. 251-266.
  2. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention website. Coronary artery disease (CAD) webpage accessed on November 2022: https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/coronary_ad.htm
  3. Eggen D.A. et al., Coronary calcification. Relationship to clinically significant coronary lesions and race, sex, and topographic distribution. Circulation 1965; 32: 948-955
  4. Osei, A.D., et al., Prognostic value of coronary artery calcium score, area, and density among individuals on statin therapy vs. non-users: The coronary artery calcium consortium. Atherosclerosis, 2021. 316: p. 79-83.
  5. Detrano R. et al., Coronary calcium as a predictor of coronary events in four racial or ethnic groups. N Engl J Med 2008; 358: 1336-1345
  6. Orimoloye, O.A., et al., Race/Ethnicity and the Prognostic Implications of Coronary Artery Calcium for All-Cause and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality: The Coronary Artery Calcium Consortium. J Am Heart Assoc, 2018. 7(20): p. e010471.
  7. Martin, S.S., et al., 2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association. Circulation, 2024. 149(8): p. e347-e913.
  8. Doherty T.M. et al., Racial differences in the significance of coronary calcium in asymptomatic black and white subjects with coronary risk factors. J Am Coll Cardiol 1999; 34: 787-794.

CL1028213 Rev. A

POLICIES & ADVISORIES
HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
PATIENTS & CAREGIVERS
abbott logo

CAUTION: These products are intended for use by or under the direction of a physician. Prior to use, reference the Instructions for Use, inside the product carton (when available) or online for more detailed information on Indications, Contraindications, Warnings, Precautions and Adverse Events.

Illustrations are artist's representations only and should not be considered as engineering drawings or photographs.

Unless otherwise specified, all product names appearing in this Internet site are trademarks owned by or licensed to Abbott, its subsidiaries or affiliates. No use of any Abbott trademark, trade name, or trade dress in this site may be made without the prior written authorization of Abbott, except to identify the product or services of the company. ™ Indicates a trademark of the Abbott group of companies. ‡ Indicates a third party trademark, which is property of its respective owner.

© 2025 Abbott. All Rights Reserved.

MAT-1900882 v14.0