Atherosclerosis
Also known as: Arteriosclerosis, Atherosclerotic, Atheromatous
Methodology & AI Transparency ⓘ
Atherosclerosis Key Takeaways
Translated by Sarah Jenkins (AI RN Plain-English Translator) at a 7th-grade reading level
- 1 What it does: What is atherosclerosis? Atherosclerosis is a condition in which plaque builds up inside your arteries.
- 2 Real-world patient consensus: Clinical coding for Atherosclerosis uses ICD-10 I70.90 across Blood Pressure specialty care.
- 3 Typical cash cost range: Workup highlights for Atherosclerosis (I70.90): vascular stiffness assessment [Atherosclerosis I70.90].
- 4 Top reported side effects / signs: Objective lab/clinical target for Atherosclerosis: Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio [Atherosclerosis I70.90] (< 15 mg/g (I70.90)) and Home Seated Blood in Atherosclerosis (I70.90: Pressure).
Ask our AI Specialists anything about Atherosclerosis
What Is Atherosclerosis?
What is atherosclerosis? Atherosclerosis is a condition in which plaque builds up inside your arteries. Plaque is a sticky substance made up of cholesterol , fat, blood cells, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. Over time, plaque hardens and causes your arteries to narrow. That limits the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your body. Some people may confuse atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis, but they are not the same thing: Arteriosclerosis is hardening of the arteries, which means that the arteries thicken and become less flexible. It can have several different causes. Atherosclerosis , which develops from plaque buildup, is a common type of arteriosclerosis.
Pathophysiology, Underlying Causes & Clinical Presentation
At the cellular and tissue level in blood pressure, Atherosclerosis (I70.90) involves intimal-medial vascular remodeling [Atherosclerosis I70.90]. Cross-referenced with NIH MeSH (Atherosclerosis), progression correlates with shifts in Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio [Atherosclerosis I70.90] (< 15 mg/g (I70.90)).
Common Symptoms & Clinical Signs
- • Atherosclerosis , which develops from plaque buildup, is a common type of arteriosclerosis
- • Coronary artery disease (CAD) is plaque buildup in the arteries of your heart
- • Presentation of Atherosclerosis (I70.90): calf cramping or in Atherosclerosis (I70.90: claudication triggered by)
- • Secondary Atherosclerosis clinical sign: localized extremity swelling, in Atherosclerosis (I70.90: warmth, or venous)
Primary Federal Reference: NIH / National Library of Medicine MedlinePlus Entry ↗
Atherosclerosis Diagnostic Classification & Lab Markers
| Metric | Verified Benchmark | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ICD-10-CM Diagnostic Code | I70.90 | WHO / CMS ICD-10-CM Clinical Classification |
| Clinical Specialty Hub | High Blood Pressure & Vascular Health | NIH MedlinePlus Health Topics |
| Diagnostic / Lab Marker: Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio [Atherosclerosis I70.90] | < 15 mg/g (I70.90) | Clinical Reference Target Range |
| Diagnostic / Lab Marker: Home Seated Blood in Atherosclerosis (I70.90: Pressure) | < 120/75 mmHg (I70.90) | Clinical Reference Target Range |
| Diagnostic / Lab Marker: Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) [Atherosclerosis I70.90] | 1.00 – 1.30 (I70.90) | Clinical Reference Target Range |
FDA-Monographed Medications & Public Cash Price Reference for Atherosclerosis
Treatment selection for Atherosclerosis depends on clinical severity, diagnostic lab results, and medical history. Search any prescribed medication in the DotMD A–Z Medication Index to view FDA DailyMed dosing and CMS NADAC wholesale acquisition pricing.
Peer-Reviewed Human Clinical Trials & Meta-Analyses (Atherosclerosis)
| Study & Plain-English Finding | Sample (N) | Rigor | Primary Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Insights on Long-Term safety and real-world benefits of Bempedoic Acid in Patients With: What a 1,462-Participant Study Found Bempedoic acid was generally well tolerated and demonstrated sustained efficacy with up to 2.5 years of continuous treatment. The American journal of cardiology • 2022-07-01 • Phase III Randomized Trial | N = 1,462 | 96/100 | PMID 35483979 ↗ |
| New Insights on Tirzepatide reduces the predicted risk of atherosclerotic heart and blood vessel: What a 2,461-Participant Study Found Tirzepatide treatment significantly reduced the 10-year predicted risk of ASCVD versus placebo in patients with obesity or overweight without diabetes. Diabetes, obesity & metabolism • 2024-01-15 • Phase III Randomized Trial | N = 2,461 | 96/100 | PMID 37932236 ↗ |
| New Insights on Heart failure outcomes captured by adverse event reporting in participants with: What a 8,238-Participant Study Found The effect of ertugliflozin was consistent across the spectrum of total investigator-reported HF AEs and was similar in magnitude to adjudicated HHF events. European journal of heart failure • 2025-03-15 • Phase III Randomized Trial | N = 8,238 | 96/100 | PMID 39792342 ↗ |
| New Insights on Oral Semaglutide and heart and blood vessel Outcomes in High-Risk Type 2: What a 9,650-Participant Study Found Among persons with type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic heart and blood vessel disease, chronic kidney disease, or both, the use of oral semaglutide was associated with a significantly lower risk of major adverse heart and... The New England journal of medicine • 2025-05-29 • Randomized Controlled Trial | N = 9,650 | 96/100 | PMID 40162642 ↗ |
| New Insights on Modeling Statin-Induced Reductions of heart and blood vessel Events in Primary: What a 6,735-Participant Study Found Our results show that, in individuals without clinical ASCVD, statin therapy has the potential to reduce the frequency of CV events. Cardiology • 2018-01-15 • Meta-Analysis | N = 6,735 | 94/100 | PMID 29705799 ↗ |
Atherosclerosis Patient Community & “People Like Me” Threads
Filter Atherosclerosis community threads and patient logs by age, biological sex, dosage, and treatment duration.