A scan of the heart arteries is the best way for doctors to tell which patients will develop health problems in the future.
A new study out of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center looked at the top six assessment tests for heart problems including coronary artery calcium scans, family history and c-reactive protein.
They found the heart scan was the best predictor of future heart disease among those patients thought to have an "intermediate risk."
The 6,000 patients in the study had been classified as high, low or intermediate risk for heart problems based on a commonly used model.
Doctors said they often struggle with the "intermediate risk" group because they don't know if they need more aggressive treatment.
