Visual ordinal grading of aortic valve calcification on routine non-gated chest CT predicts prognosis and alters management

Question New guidelines recommend reporting AVC on all non-gated chest CTs, the prognostic and clinical relevance of which is uncertain. Findings There are associations between visually quantified AVC, AS on echocardiography, and all-cause mortality in an unselected population referred for routine chest CT. Clinical relevance These results support the reporting of all severities of AVC, especially severe AVC, as a prognostic marker in all age groups. The clinical implications require further clarification in a prospective cohort.