Utility of Cardiovascular Imaging to Refine Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Assessment

Various approaches exist for stratifying cardiovascular risk and predicting future cardiovascular events. While traditional approaches rely on risk scores, which are based on the presence or absence of various risk factors, noninvasive cardiovascular imaging allows for actual identification of coronary artery disease—whether by direct visualization of plaque or imaging—the physiologic manifestations of flow-limiting disease. The presence of such disease is associated with a significant increase in risk of future cardiovascular events and thus, should prompt intensification of preventive therapies. This review will highlight the role of cardiovascular imaging for evaluating disease in individuals without known prior coronary artery disease. The principal findings of each imaging technique will be reviewed and data regarding the risk associated with such findings will be discussed.