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 .
Rationale, design, and methods for the risk evaluation and communication health outcomes and utilization trial (REACH OUT).
OBJECTIVE To test the primary study hypothesis that a physician-delivered coronary heart disease risk evaluation and communication program can lower patients ' predicted 10-year risk of myocardial infa rct ion or death due to coronary heart disease by 10 % within 6 months compared to usual care . DESIGN Prospect i ve , parallel group , open-label , controlled , cluster-r and omized multinational trial ; the study site is the unit of r and omization . SETTING Patients were recruited from 106 general practice s located in nine European countries . PATIENTS Men and women aged 45 to 64 ( N=1500 ) with a documented history of hypertension ( treated or untreated ) , systolic blood pressure > or = 140 mmHg ( or > or = 130 mmHg in the presence of renal or kidney disease ) , no history of cardiovascular disease , and a predicted 10-year risk of myocardial infa rct ion or death due to coronary heart disease > or = 10 % . INTERVENTION Sites were r and omized to deliver a physician-directed coronary heart disease risk communication and education program or usual care . The intervention program included informing patients of their 10-year risk of myocardial infa rct ion or death due to coronary heart disease , educating patients about modifiable risk factors and their control , and three follow-up phone calls by a physician or study nurse . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Predicted 10-year risk of myocardial infa rct ion or death due to coronary heart disease at 6 months . CONCLUSIONS REACH OUT will evaluate a novel , patient-focused , physician-implemented application of coronary heart disease risk equations . Results of the study will be of practical relevance to physicians , health care organizations , and those who issue clinical guidelines for the reduction of cardiovascular risk
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 .