Heart and kidney intertwined with calcium crystals, representing advanced cardiac screening for transplant candidates.

Kidney Transplants: Are You Getting the Right Heart Screening?

Kai Mendoza in Health & Wellness June 2025 • 4 min read.

"Uncover how calcium scores and specialized CT scans are revolutionizing cardiac risk assessments for kidney transplant candidates."

If you're on the journey toward a kidney transplant, you're likely undergoing a battery of tests to ensure you're a good candidate. What you might not realize is that the standard cardiac screenings often used may not be telling the whole story, especially when it comes to assessing your risk for heart-related complications.

Heart disease is a major concern for individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and it remains a leading cause of death even after a successful transplant. That's why it's crucial to have the most accurate picture of your heart health before moving forward. Traditional risk factors and basic cardiac tests have limitations. A groundbreaking study published in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging sheds light on why more advanced screening methods like calcium scoring and coronary CT angiography (CTA) could be game-changers.

This article dives deep into the findings of this study, explaining how these advanced techniques offer a more precise way to assess cardiac risk in kidney transplant candidates. We'll explore why this matters for your overall health and what questions you should be asking your healthcare team to ensure you're receiving the best possible care.

Why Traditional Cardiac Risk Assessments Fall Short

Heart and kidney intertwined with calcium crystals, representing advanced cardiac screening for transplant candidates.

For years, doctors have relied on assessing traditional cardiovascular risk factors—like age, diabetes, smoking history, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol—to determine who needs further cardiac evaluation before a kidney transplant. The American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines even suggest cardiac stress testing for candidates with multiple risk factors.

However, these traditional methods have their drawbacks:

Risk factors aren't always accurate. Some individuals with few traditional risk factors may still have significant heart disease, while others with many risk factors might be relatively healthy.
Stress tests have limitations. Noninvasive stress tests, like SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography), haven't always proven reliable in predicting future cardiac events in this population.

The study highlights that relying solely on these traditional methods can lead to missed opportunities for early intervention and prevention. That's where calcium scoring and coronary CTA come in.

Take Control of Your Heart Health

If you're a kidney transplant candidate, don't hesitate to discuss these findings with your nephrologist and cardiologist. Ask about the potential benefits of calcium scoring and coronary CTA in your specific situation. By taking a proactive approach and utilizing the most advanced screening methods available, you can significantly improve your chances of a successful transplant and a long, healthy life afterward.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

What are the traditional methods for assessing cardiac risk in kidney transplant candidates, and what are their limitations?

Traditional cardiac risk assessments for kidney transplant candidates often rely on factors like age, diabetes, smoking history, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. The ACC/AHA guidelines suggest cardiac stress testing for those with multiple risk factors. However, these methods can be inaccurate, as some individuals with few risk factors may have heart disease, while others with many risk factors may be healthy. Stress tests like SPECT also have limitations in predicting cardiac events in this population.

What are calcium scoring and coronary CTA, and how do they work?

Calcium scoring is a non-invasive imaging test that measures the amount of calcified plaque in the coronary arteries. A high calcium score indicates a greater risk of heart disease. Coronary CTA (CT angiography) is another imaging technique that uses CT scans to visualize the coronary arteries and identify blockages or narrowing. These advanced screenings can provide a more accurate assessment of cardiac risk compared to traditional methods.

Why are calcium scoring and coronary CTA considered important for kidney transplant candidates?

Calcium scoring and coronary CTA are significant because they can identify heart disease in kidney transplant candidates who may not be identified through traditional risk assessments and stress tests. This is crucial because heart disease is a major concern for individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and a leading cause of death even after a successful transplant. Early detection allows for timely intervention and prevention, improving the chances of a successful transplant and a long, healthy life afterward.

What are the implications of relying solely on traditional cardiac risk assessments for kidney transplant candidates?

If traditional cardiac risk assessments underestimate the risk of heart disease in kidney transplant candidates, the implications can be severe. Individuals may undergo kidney transplantation without adequate cardiac evaluation or treatment, increasing their risk of heart-related complications, including heart attack, stroke, and death. The use of calcium scoring and coronary CTA can help to avoid these adverse outcomes by providing a more accurate assessment of cardiac risk.

What steps can I take to ensure I'm getting the best possible cardiac screening as a kidney transplant candidate?

To take control of your heart health as a kidney transplant candidate, discuss the potential benefits of calcium scoring and coronary CTA with your nephrologist and cardiologist. Ask about whether these advanced screening methods are appropriate for your specific situation, considering your individual risk factors and medical history. By taking a proactive approach and utilizing the most advanced screening methods available, you can significantly improve your chances of a successful transplant and a long, healthy life afterward.