A good quality cardiac CT scan shows in fantastic detail the heart structures and specifically the coronary arteries.

Coronary artery disease remains the leading cause of premature death in the UK and can often strike unexpectedly in apparently well individuals. In those that have developed cardiac symptoms of chest discomfort or breathlessness, NICE have been recommending over the last 5 years that a Cardiac CT scan is the preferential method of evaluation.

Coronary artery disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the United Kingdom which develops when the arteries leading to the heart narrow or become blocked leading to a reduction in blood flow to the heart, causing chest pain, heart attacks and death. Many of the non-invasive tests available today have low accuracy rates in detecting CHD which means many patients end up having to be admitted to hospital for an invasive test to find out.

Sadly during the Covid-19 pandemic there has been a significant increase in deaths from heart disease. The British Heart Foundation have reported that during the first wave of the pandemic there were nearly an additional 5000 deaths from heart disease in England.

This increase in deaths is likely to have occurred for a number of reasons. Direct access to healthcare has been reduced due to the challenges posed by the emergence of a highly contagious, novel infectious disease. Individuals are also likely to have changed their behaviour and put off seeking health advice due to a fear of putting pressure on vital healthcare services. Moreover, the recognition amongst the general public and healthcare professionals alike, of the risk of contracting Covid-19 in a hospital setting, will also have reduced the number of patients seeking advice for potentially life-threatening conditions.