Heart CT with calcium score
A low-dose CT scan that measures plaque in your coronary arteries, giving you a concrete number for your cardiovascular risk, not an estimate.
What is a Heart CT with calcium score?
A coronary calcium score, also called a CAC scan or cardiac CT, is a fast, low-dose CT scan that measures calcified plaque deposits in the walls of the coronary arteries. It requires no contrast injection, no fasting, and takes about 10–15 minutes from start to finish.
The scan uses a small amount of ionizing radiation, unlike MRI. The dose is low, similar to a mammogram. It's a well-established trade-off for one of the most informative cardiovascular tests available.
Results are expressed as a calcium score, a single number that reflects both the amount and density of calcium in the arteries. The scan is read by a specialist radiologist, and results are reviewed with a physician who puts the number in context with your full health profile.
Understanding your calcium score
The calcium score is the standard measure used to quantify coronary calcium. Here's what each range typically means:
Score
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No detectable calcium. Strong evidence against significant coronary artery disease. Very low near-term risk.
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Mild calcium deposits. Some plaque is present. Moderate risk, lifestyle and follow-up discussion warranted.
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Moderate deposits. Associated with a relatively high risk of a cardiac event over the next 3–5 years.
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Extensive calcification. High risk. Further cardiac evaluation is typically recommended.
Good to know
A score of zero is worth emphasizing: it's one of the most powerful negative predictors in cardiovascular medicine, associated with a very low rate of cardiac events even in people with traditional risk factors. A high score, on the other hand, provides exactly the kind of concrete signal that motivates meaningful change, in medication, lifestyle, and follow-up.
It's important to note that the scan detects calcified plaque only. Soft, non-calcified plaque is not visible on a calcium scan. A zero score significantly lowers the probability of significant disease, but is not an absolute guarantee.
Prevent cardiovascular disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and the majority of heart attacks happen to people who had no prior symptoms. That's not bad luck, it's the result of atherosclerosis, a gradual buildup of plaque in the artery walls that develops silently over decades.
Standard risk assessments based on cholesterol, blood pressure, and lifestyle give you an estimate of risk. But two people with identical cholesterol levels can have completely different amounts of plaque in their arteries. A coronary calcium scan cuts through the uncertainty by measuring the actual calcium deposits in your coronary arteries, the physical record of what atherosclerosis has already done.
A score of zero provides some of the strongest reassurance available in preventive cardiology. A high score motivates action at exactly the point when that action can still make a difference.
How it complements the full-body health check
Elfcare's full-body health check combines a full-body MRI with over 80 bio biomarkers. On the cardiovascular side, the blood tests map your risk factor profile - cholesterol, ApoB, Lp(a), triglycerides, inflammation markers, and cardiac stress markers. The MRI examines your heart's structure, size, and the major blood vessels running through your chest.
A coronary calcium scan adds a third dimension: it shows whether plaque has actually formed inside the coronary arteries, the vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood. That's something neither blood tests nor a standard MRI can show.
The result is a genuinely complete cardiovascular picture. Your blood tests tell you what your risk environment looks like. Your MRI tells you how your heart looks. And your calcium score tells you what has already happened in your arteries, giving you and your physician the clearest possible basis for decisions about prevention, medication, and follow-up.
Book heart CT with calcium score
At Elfcare, a coronary calcium scan can be added as a standalone examination or discussed as part of your overall health assessment. The scan is performed at our partner clinics and read by a specialist radiologist. Your results are then reviewed with one of Elfcare's physician specialists, and helps you understand what, concretely, to do next.
If you'd like to book the coronary calcium scan as a standalone examination, you're welcome to reach out directly. The price for a coronary calcium score is 4,000 SEK.
If you'd like to book our health check together with the calcium scan, fill in your details below. Mention it in the message field, or tell your doctor at your first consultation, that you're interested in this additional heart examination.
Book your health check
Elfcare's full-body health check includes a full-body MRI, detailed blood tests, and consultations with our specialist doctors, built for early detection and prevention.
Price for full-body health check: 35,000 SEK
Fill in your details and we'll send you a link to book your first consultation. Slots are always available within the week.
For athletes and active people
Fitness doesn't protect your arteries the way you think
Being in great shape reduces many cardiovascular risk factors, but it doesn't prevent plaque from forming in your coronary arteries. Research has shown that long-term endurance athletes - marathon runners, cyclists, triathletes - can actually carry more coronary calcium than people who exercise moderately. One proposed explanation is that decades of extreme cardiovascular stress cause microscopic damage to artery walls that the body repairs using calcium deposits, though the exact mechanism is still debated. What's clear is that the plaque is real, measurable, and often completely symptom-free. A calcium scan helps your physician assess how much calcium is present and whether it warrants attention.
The risk during races is low, but not zero
Sudden cardiac death during endurance events disproportionately affects men over 40 with no prior diagnosis. These events are rare, but they're almost never random, they're preceded by atherosclerosis that was simply never detected. No training plan or finish time tells you what's happening inside your artery walls.
Know before you race
A calcium scan before the season answers a question no fitness test or blood panel can: are your arteries clear? A score of zero is a genuine green light. A higher score isn't a reason to stop training, but it's a reason to train with full information, and potentially to adjust your approach with a physician before your next start line.
Many race organizers for longer distances, Ironman, ultramarathons, gran fondos, increasingly recommend cardiac screening for masters athletes. A coronary calcium scan is one of the most direct ways to get that clearance.
Clearer answers on medication
A calcium scan resolves the ambiguity. A score of zero in someone with high cholesterol is strong evidence that the arteries have remained clear, and in many cases supports a decision to defer medication and focus on lifestyle instead. A high score in the same person tells a different story: genetics or other factors have driven plaque formation regardless of fitness level, and medication is likely warranted. Either way, you leave with a concrete answer rather than a judgment call made on cholesterol numbers alone.
500+ Swedes have already chosen us for their health check
“My doctor was extremely knowledgeable and presented the results, including all 80+ biomarkers, in great detail”
— Patrik, Stockholm“Communication was top-notch. More efficient than the alternatives since the doctor consultations are digital and only one visit to Sabbatsberg’s hospital was needed. A great experience all around.”
— Johanna, Solna“I wanted to get my full body MRI and was pleased to have found Elfcare, the service and their platform sets them apart from other players”
— Rita, Stockholm Questions & Answers - Coronary Calcium Score
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The dose is low, comparable to a mammogram or a few months of natural background radiation. It's a well-established examination with a favorable risk-benefit profile for people in relevant risk groups.
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No fasting required. Avoid caffeine and smoking for a few hours before the scan, as these can raise your heart rate and affect image quality. Wear comfortable clothing without metal near the chest.
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You'll review the result with a specialist physician who explains what it means in the context of your full health profile. Depending on the score, this may lead to a discussion about preventive medication, lifestyle changes, or referral for further cardiac evaluation. Elfcare handles follow-up.
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Yes. A standalone coronary calcium scan can be arranged, contact us to discuss.
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No. A calcium scan measures calcified plaque only and requires no contrast. CT coronary angiography uses contrast to visualize the artery walls directly and is used when there's already a suspicion of coronary artery disease or when symptoms are present. The calcium scan is a screening tool for people without symptoms.
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A coronary calcium scan is available as an add-on or standalone examination at 4,000 SEK. Elfcare's full-body health check is 35,000 SEK and includes MRI, blood tests, and two physician consultations.
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Yes, particularly if you're over 40 and train regularly for endurance events. Research shows that high-volume endurance athletes can develop coronary calcification independent of traditional risk factors, a phenomenon sometimes called the "athlete's paradox." A calcium scan gives you a direct measurement of your arterial health that no fitness test or blood panel can replicate. Many athletes use it as a pre-season baseline before major races.