Artery scans detect silent atherosclerosis in 1 in 13 adults under 30

A study of 16,808 adults found silent atherosclerosis, or arterial plaque, detectable in 1 in 13 people under 30, with overall prevalence reaching 57.1% across all participants. Plaque was more common in men (63.4%) than women (50.9%), with men showing earlier disease onset. Prevalence rose with age, affecting nearly all men and over 90% of women by ages 60-70, with women's steepest increase occurring after age 40. Younger adults typically had plaque in a single peripheral artery, while older adults showed multi-territory involvement. Standard risk scores identified few cases, and a zero coronary calcium score did not rule out noncalcified plaque.