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 .
Web-Based Risk Communication and Planning in an Obese Population: Exploratory Study
Background A healthy diet , low in saturated fat and high in fiber , is a popular medical recommendation in preventing cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) . One approach to motivating healthier eating is to raise individuals ’ awareness of their CVD risk and then help them form specific plans to change . Objectives The aim was to explore the combined impact of a Web-based CVD risk message and a fully automated planning tool on risk perceptions , intentions , and saturated fat intake changes over 4 weeks . Methods Of the 1187 men and women recruited online , 781 were r and omly allocated to one of four conditions : a CVD risk message , the same CVD risk message paired with planning , planning on its own , and a control group . All outcome measures were assessed by online self-reports . Generalized linear modeling was used to analyze the data . Results Self-perceived consumption of low saturated fat foods ( odds ratio 11.40 , 95 % CI 1.86–69.68 ) and intentions to change diet ( odds ratio 21.20 , 95 % CI 2.6–172.4 ) increased more in participants allocated to the planning than the control group . No difference was observed between the four conditions with regard to percentage saturated fat intake changes . Contrary to our expectations , there was no difference in perceived and percentage saturated fat intake change between the CVD risk message plus planning group and the control group . Risk perceptions among those receiving the CVD risk message changed to be more in line with their age ( change in slopeindividual = 0.075 , P = .01 ; change in slopecomparative = 0.100 , P = .001 ) , whereas there was no change among those who did not receive the CVD risk message . Conclusion There was no evidence that combining a CVD risk message with a planning tool reduces saturated fat intake more than either alone . Further research is required to identify ways in which matching motivational and volitional strategies can lead to greater behavior changes . Trial Registration International St and ard R and omized Controlled Trial Number ( IS RCT N ) : 91154001 ; http://www.controlled-trials.com/IS RCT N91154001 ( Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/62sBoGeOO
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 .