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 Reduction: A Randomized Trial of Two Health Promotion Strategies for Lowering Risk in a Community with Low Socioeconomic Status
Aim : To compare the effects of information pamphlets with those of group counselling on cardiovascular risk among individuals from a community with low socioeconomic status . Methods : Risk factors for coronary heart disease were assessed in 1131 men and women from a community with low socioeconomic status in suburban Melbourne . Individuals deemed to be at moderate risk , on the basis of an integrated risk score greater than 65 , were asked to participate in a r and omized trial comparing two simple interventions design ed to reduce cardiovascular risk . One hundred and sixty-four individuals were r and omly assigned to group A ( n = 85 ) and participated in a single group counselling session lasting between 1.5 and 2.0 h. Group B ( n = 79 ) received a specially prepared pamphlet that provided brief written information concerning risk-factor modification . Both groups were asked to attend a follow-up assessment of risk factors 3 and 6 months after entry . Results : There was no significant difference in the change in risk-factor levels between those receiving information pamphlets and those attending the group counselling session after 3 or 6 months of follow-up . Small but significant decreases ( P < 0.05 ) were seen in systolic and diastolic blood pressures ( −−5/4 mmHg for group A , −−5/3 mmHg for group B ) , total plasma cholesterol level ( −−0.30 mmol/l for groups A and B ) and overall coronary risk score ( −14.4 and −13.9 for groups A and B , respectively ) . Body weight remained unchanged during the study period in both groups . Conclusion : Screening together with 1.5−2 h group counselling had no more influence on cardiovascular risk factors than screening together with provision of information pamphlets in a population with low socioeconomic status
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 .