There is uncertainty whether current strategies for providing CVD risk scores  affect CVD events .
Providing CVD risk scores may slightly reduce CVD risk factor levels and may increase preventive medication prescribing in higher-risk people without evidence of harm .
BACKGROUND The current paradigm for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) emphasises absolute risk assessment to guide treatment decisions in primary prevention .
Although the derivation and validation of multivariable risk assessment tools , or CVD risk scores , have attracted considerable attention , their effect on clinical outcomes is uncertain .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of evaluating and providing CVD risk scores in adults without prevalent CVD on cardiovascular outcomes , risk factor levels , preventive medication prescribing , and health behaviours .
Cardiovascular Risk Assessment and Effects on Behavior in Switzerland The Swiss Heart Foundation HerzCheck®/Cardio-Test®
Background : “ CardioTest ® ” is a tool for cardiovascular risk assessment . The aim of this study was to evaluate if this test used in Swiss pharmacies provides risk stratification and if it had impact on individual behaviour . Methods : Individuals were evaluated ( blood pressure , body waist circumference , r and om blood sample s and coronary artery disease risk factors ) . The cardiovascular risk was calculated ( AGLA Risk Score ( ARS ) a modified PROCAM Score ) and participants were informed about their result . One year after the initial testing individuals were followed up by question naire with respect to the action they had taken based upon the ARS results . The relation between ARS results and events during follow-up were assessed . Events were defined as cardiovascular events due to chest pain , myocardial infa rct ion or stroke . Result : A total of 1415 individuals were contacted for follow-up , 746 ( 53 % ) with a mean age of 62.7 ( ±12.8 ) years ( 60 % were male ) returned their question naire . The cardiovascular risk throughout the study - population turned out to be low : 73.9 % had a low ARS < 10 % , 21.7 % an intermediate ARS 10 - 20 % and 4.4 % had a high ARS > 20 % . Significantly more participants with ARS > 20 % consulted their family doctor ( 46.2 % ) than those with ARS 10 - 20 % ( 25.2 % ) and ARS < 10 % ( 10.4 % ) , respectively ( p<0,01 for both comparisons ) . Sixty-four individuals ( 9 % ) suffered a cardiovascular event . The event rates increased as a function of ARS . Conclusion : The overall cardiovascular risk of individuals participating in a pharmacy based risk assessment program seems to be low . CardioTest ® provided risk stratification with respect to future cardio-vascular events . CardioTest ® seems to have impact on individual behavior and lifestyle modification . Other setting s and locations for screening might be considered to reach higher risk individuals at an earlier stage
There is uncertainty whether current strategies for providing CVD risk scores  affect CVD events .
Providing CVD risk scores may slightly reduce CVD risk factor levels and may increase preventive medication prescribing in higher-risk people without evidence of harm .
BACKGROUND The current paradigm for cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) emphasises absolute risk assessment to guide treatment decisions in primary prevention .
Although the derivation and validation of multivariable risk assessment tools , or CVD risk scores , have attracted considerable attention , their effect on clinical outcomes is uncertain .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of evaluating and providing CVD risk scores in adults without prevalent CVD on cardiovascular outcomes , risk factor levels , preventive medication prescribing , and health behaviours .