Exploring the prevalence and clinical impact of carotid plaque burden by Doppler ultrasound in lung cancer screening participants with limited coronary artery calcification

Question Can CDU improve CV risk assessment by detecting subclinical atherosclerosis in LCS participants with absent or limited coronary calcifications? Findings Measurable carotid plaques (> 20%) were detected in 33.3% participants with absent or limited coronary calcifications (A0/A1). CDU findings reclassifying 5% of A0/A1 subjects as eligible for lipid-lowering therapy. Clinical relevance CDU may reveal subclinical atherosclerosis in LCS participants with absent or limited coronary calcifications, improving CV risk assessment and identifying individuals who may benefit from lipid-lowering therapy initiation.