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 cardiovascular disease risk assessment tool for the promotion of healthier lifestyles
Background Although percentage risk formats are commonly used to convey cardiovascular disease ( CVD ) risk , people find it difficult to underst and these representations . Aims To compare the impact of providing a CVD risk message in either a traditional format ( % risk ) or using an analogy of risk ( Heart-Age ) on participants ' risk perceptions and intention to make lifestyle changes . Methods Four hundred and thirteen men and women were r and omly allocated to one of two conditions ;  CVD risk as a percentage or as a Heart-Age score ( a cardiovascular risk adjusted age ) . Results There was a grade d relationship between perceived and actual CVD risk only in those participants receiving a Heart-Age message ( P<0.05 ) . Heart-Age was more emotionally impactful in younger individuals at higher actual CVD risk ( P<0.01 ) . Self-reported emotional reactions further mediated the relationship between risk perception and intention to make lifestyle changes . Conclusion This study found that the Heart-Age message significantly differed from percentage CVD risk score in risk perceptions and was more emotionally impactful in those participants at higher actual CVD risk levels
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 .