Cardiac computed tomography scans were performed with four different scanner systems (General Electric LightSpeed Plus and LightSpeed, GE Healthcare Technologies, Chicago, US; Siemens Somaton Volume Zoom, Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany; and Philips MX 8000, Philips Healthcare, Best, Netherlands). The scan protocol was consistent with NHLBI’s Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis Study (MESA) protocol [24 (link)]. Scan parameters and data acquisition are described by Djoussé et al. [23 (link)].
CT images were electronically transmitted and read at the core lab at Wake Forest University Health Science, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. Images were interpreted by trained readers using dedicated software (GE Smartscore) and hardware (GE Advantage Windows Workstation). The Agatston method was used to calculate the CAC score based on the area and density of calcified plaques [25 ]. CAC scores of each of two scans per participant were averaged to obtain the final CAC score.
CT images were electronically transmitted and read at the core lab at Wake Forest University Health Science, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. Images were interpreted by trained readers using dedicated software (GE Smartscore) and hardware (GE Advantage Windows Workstation). The Agatston method was used to calculate the CAC score based on the area and density of calcified plaques [25 ]. CAC scores of each of two scans per participant were averaged to obtain the final CAC score.