[Prognostic significance of coronary calcification in asymptomatic persons].

Coronary calcification is a measure of the extent of coronary stenosis. The aim of a quantification of coronary calcification in asymptomatic persons is to improve the stratification of the cardiovascular risk. A number of studies have shown that a high coronary calcium score is associated with an elevated cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, it has recently been shown that the quantification of coronary calcification can be employed to improve the prediction of cardiovascular events in comparison with conventional risk stratification, in particular in persons carrying an intermediate risk. The applicability of these results to the general population is currently being investigated in the Heinz-Nixdorf Recall Study.