Heart Attacks Can Be Eradicated – Like Polio and Chickenpox
Help SHAPE achieve the ambitious goal of eradicating heart attacks and spare families the devastating loss that JoAnne endured. After losing her husband to a sudden heart attack, JoAnne became a SHAPE volunteer, transforming personal tragedy into a powerful commitment to prevention.
SHAPE is leading a national coalition urging HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to modernize the USPSTF and accelerate science-driven prevention.
LIFEMAP Mega Trial Design Meeting
An AHA Unofficial Satellite Event
November 6th, 2025 6-9 PM
Hotel Le Méridien New Orleans
Background and Rationals
LIFEMAP: Low-dose Imaging For Early Multi-disease Assessment & Prevention
1st Conference on Integrating Early Detection of Heart and Lung Disease through Low-Dose CT
Day 1
Welcome and Introduction
Opening Remarks: CVD Burden in 2050 without New Prevention Strategies
From Intervention to Prevention
Sex and Race Differences in Visceral Fat and CVD
PANEL - Early Detection Opportunities Resulting from Low-Dose CT
Bronchiecstasis
PANEL - Averting Premature Death from Lung Disease by Early Detection
Valvular Disease
Atrial Fibrillation
Interstitial Lung Disease
Abnormal Adiposity
ASCVD
Emphysema and COPD
Fatty Liver Disease
Heart Failure
Reinventing Public Health in the Era of AI
Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia
PANEL - Averting Premature Death from Heart Disease by Early Detection
Averting Premature Death from Lung Disease by Early Detection: Introduction
Advancing National Coverage for Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) Scoring
On June 19, 2009, the Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1290, the nation’s first preventive cardiovascular law mandating insurance coverage for coronary artery calcium (CAC) testing to enable early detection of hidden heart disease. Following SHAPE’s successful advocacy efforts in Texas, similar legislation has since been enacted in New Mexico and Connecticut.
Despite these important milestones, nearly all other states remain without CAC coverage mandates. Even in states where protective legislation exists, most physicians and patients remain unaware of their rights under these laws, resulting in continued underutilization and widespread out-of-pocket payment.
As a result, access to this life-saving test remains highly inconsistent, inequitable, and dependent on geography rather than medical need.
SHAPE is leading a nationwide initiative to secure Medicare and broad private insurance coverage for the appropriate clinical use of CAC testing. National coverage would eliminate geographic disparities, ensure equitable access, and enable earlier detection and prevention of heart attacks.
We urge patients, clinicians, and policymakers to join us in this effort. Ask your elected representatives to support policies that expand CAC access and help prevent unnecessary heart attacks and premature deaths.
About SHAPE
The Society for Heart Attack Prevention and Eradication (SHAPE) is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization founded in 2001 by Dr. Morteza Naghavi. SHAPE is dedicated to the mission of eradicating heart attacks through education, early detection, and preventive treatment of individuals at risk.
Who Is the Vulnerable Patient?
A “Vulnerable Patient” is an individual with subclinical or undiagnosed coronary artery disease who has no symptoms, yet is at high risk for experiencing a potentially fatal heart attack. Because these individuals often feel well, they remain unaware of their risk until a catastrophic event occurs.
How Can We Detect the Vulnerable Patient?
While no single screening test is perfect, the most powerful and validated tool currently available for detecting early coronary atherosclerosis is the coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan. CAC directly measures calcified plaque in the coronary arteries and provides a highly accurate estimate of future cardiovascular risk.
Extensive clinical evidence demonstrates that CAC testing outperforms traditional risk assessment tools in identifying individuals who would benefit most from early preventive interventions.
We strongly encourage eligible individuals to consider undergoing CAC testing to understand their cardiovascular risk. If your CAC score is greater than zero, timely preventive action—including lifestyle changes and, when appropriate, medical therapy—can significantly reduce your risk of heart attack. Waiting for symptoms often means waiting too long.
Is CAC Testing Covered by Insurance?
Unfortunately, CAC testing is not yet routinely covered by Medicare or most private insurers. However, Texas and New Mexico have enacted legislation mandating insurance coverage for CAC testing. SHAPE is actively leading a nationwide initiative to secure Medicare and broad insurance coverage, ensuring equitable access to this life-saving diagnostic tool.