High coronary artery calcium score -- a measure of arterial ageing -- puts people at greater risk not only for heart and vascular disease but also for non-cardiovascular diseases such as cancer chronic kidney disease and lung diseases says a study. The findings are based on a 10-year follow-up study of more than 6000 people who underwent heart CT scans. Plaque in the arteries is the result of cumulative damage and inflammation and vulnerability to injury and chronic inflammation likely contributes to diseases like cancer kidney and lung diseases as well as cardiovascular disease said one of the researchers Michael