MESA: the NIH-sponsored study that validates atherosclerosis imaging for primary prevention.

Coronary artery calcium (CAC) score correlates strongly with the burden of atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries. It is the strongest predictor of future coronary events in asymptomatic individuals, being stronger than all traditional risk factors combined. It is also a better predictor of future events than carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) measurement for the prediction of coronary artery disease but slightly weaker than CIMT for the prediction of cerebrovascular events such as stroke. These findings have been validated by the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), a prospective epidemiologic study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) investigating the prevalence, correlates, and progression of atherosclerosis in an asymptomatic, ethnically diverse population. That is why the US national guidelines have recently elevated their recommendation levels to Class IIa for use of CAC and CIMT in risk stratification of the asymptomatic intermediate-risk population.