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 .
Evaluation of a community intervention program in Japan using Framingham risk score and estimated 10-year coronary heart disease risk as outcome variables: a non-randomized controlled trial
Background Community-based programs are being widely adopted in the struggle to prevent cardiovascular diseases . No study has been conducted in Japan to evaluate the effects of a community-based health promotion program by using the Framingham risk score and 10-year CHD risk as outcome variables . The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of a program involving 6-month intervention and 18-month follow-up using such outcomes . Methods Participants ( n = 1,983 , 39.5 % women , mean age 63.4 years ) were selected for the study in 2008 . Of these 1,983 , 347 ( 42.4 % women ) subjects received the 6-month intervention . The intervention included individual counseling and group sessions , among others . After 18 months , 1,278 participants ( intervention group : 238 , control group : 1,040 ) were followed up . Changes in the Framingham risk score and 10-year coronary heart disease ( CHD ) risk were evaluated . ANCOVA and multiple logistic models adjusted for baseline value , age , sex and intervention times were used . Results The results showed that the differences in the Framingham risk score and mean 10-year CHD risk were significant in the intervention group compared with the control group after 6-month follow-up ( -0.46 and -1.12 , respectively ) and were also significant after 18-month follow-up ( -0.39 and -0.85 , respectively ) . The proportion of those with intermediate 10-year CHD risk ( > = 10 % ) was significantly lower at 6 months ( OR 0.30 , 95 % CI 0.12 - 0.74 ) and at 18 months ( OR 0.41 , 95 % CI 0.19 - 0.92 ) . Conclusions The six-month intervention program effectively decreased estimated 10-year CHD risk and the effects were still present at 18-month follow-up . Trial registration UMIN-CTR :
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 .