REACT scans find artery plaque in 1 in 13 adults under 30
Imaging of 16,808 adults in Denmark and Spain found silent atherosclerosis in 57.1% of participants, including about 1 in 13 aged 18–29. The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, found plaque became more common with age; men showed it earlier, while women had a sharper rise in midlife. The researchers say further trials are needed to establish whether screening and imaging-guided prevention improve health outcomes.
Bottom line — SCORE2 classified only a small minority of participants with silent plaque as high risk.
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The REACT team used ultrasound to scan carotid and femoral arteries, and CT angiography to examine coronary arteries.
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Among adults aged 18–29, plaque was detected in 8.7% of men and 6.7% of women, according to the study.
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The researchers found prevalence rose earlier in men; women’s steepest increase came between 40 and 60.
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In younger participants, plaque was usually in peripheral arteries and limited to one vascular territory.
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Most participants with coronary plaque also had plaque in their carotid or femoral arteries.
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A zero coronary calcium score did not rule out non-calcified plaque, particularly among younger adults.
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The researchers cautioned that the study’s age-stratified sample does not provide population-wide prevalence estimates.
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REACT’s planned second phase is intended to test whether imaging-guided prevention improves outcomes.