Relationship between dietary oxidative balance score, anthropometric measurements and socioeconomic factors in women at low risk of cardiovascular disease.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the dietary oxidative balance score (OBS), an indicator of oxidative stress, anthropometric measures and socioeconomic factors in women at low risk of cardiovascular disease. METHODS: The participants' 3-day dietary intake, demographic information, anthropometric measurements and blood pressure values were recorded, and the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and OBS values were determined. Oxidative balance score consists of prooxidant and antioxidant scores. Prooxidant scores were calculated from red meat consumption, total iron and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake, alcohol and cigarette consumption parameters, while antioxidant scores were calculated by assessing cruciferous consumption, dietary total vitamin C, vitamin E, ß-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin, ß-carotene, ß-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, lutein+zeaxanthin and selenium intake. RESULTS: A total of 145 women were included in the study. Education level was associated with anthropometric measurements, income status with antioxidant and prooxidant scores, and exercise status with OBS (p<0.05). Weight, waist, hip, BMI, waist/hip, and waist/height ratio were significantly lower in subjects with low prooxidant score (p<0.05); there was no significant relationship between age, systolic, diastolic, FRS (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The study, conducted in healthy women, showed that dietary oxidative balance scoring is promising in preventing the development of CVD and reducing the burden of disease, and that prospective cohort studies should be conducted in this area.

Glycemic Control and Cardiometabolic Risk in Black Zimbabweans with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Purpose: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) frequently presents with modified cardiometabolic risk profiles, indicative of an elevated susceptibility to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiometabolic risk factors such as obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, insulin resistance and dyslipidemia are known contributors to increased CVD hazard in individuals with T2DM. This study evaluated the glycemic control-based cardiometabolic risk profiles of black Zimbabweans with T2DM. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 116 T2DM patients recruited from diabetic clinics at Parirenyatwa and Sally Mugabe Hospitals, Harare, Zimbabwe, was conducted. Blood samples were collected for glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and lipid profile assessment. The Framingham risk scores (FRS) based on body mass index (BMI) and lipid profile were used to determine CVD risk. Parametric variables were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with post hoc Bonferroni correction, while non-parametric variables were compared using the Kruskal-Wallis test with post hoc Dunn test for multiple comparisons. Results: The overall frequency of dyslipidemia was 83.6% (n=97) and hypoalphalipoproteinemia was the most prevalent dyslipidemia (79.3%). Median HDLC levels were significantly lower in participants with poor glycemic control (1.12 mmol/L) compared to those with good glycemic control group (1.37 mmol/L) (p=0.011). Despite lack of significant variations in Framingham Risk Scores, there was a trend towards lower FRS-BMI in the good control group (29.8%) compared to the inadequate control (35.4%) and poor control (32.7%) groups (p=0.078). Conclusion: Duration since DM diagnosis was observed to be an important risk factor for poor glycemic control being significantly shorter in those with good glycemic control compared to those with inadequate and poor control. Overall, there was no significant difference in HbA1c status by age but individuals with poor glycemic control were significantly older than those with good control. The most prevalent dyslipidemia among the study participants was hypoalphalipoproteinemia which is reportedly associated with genetic predisposition, warranting further investigations.

Adoption of the PREVENT (Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease EVENTs) Risk Algorithm: Potential International Implications.

Background: The PREVENT (Predicting Risk of cardiovascular disease EVENTs risk algorithm was developed to better reflect the impact of metabolic factors on cardiovascular risk. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the relative performance of PREVENT with standard comparator algorithms (Framingham risk score, pooled cohort equation, SCORE2 [Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation2]) for risk stratification emphasizing the implications of weighing chronic kidney disease. Methods: A simulated cohort was created of males and females aged 40 to 75 years with and without other traditional risk factors and either normal estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR 90 or 60 ml/min/1.73 m2) or abnormal eGFR (45 or 30 ml/min/1.73 m2). The concordance and reclassification rates were calculated for each category of risk with emphasis on subjects characterized as moderate risk by the standard comparator algorithms. Results: PREVENT demonstrated increased risk with progressive decreases in eGFR. When the standard comparator algorithms identified moderate risk, PREVENT was concordant in 6% to 88% of simulations. In simulations with normal eGFR, PREVENT identified a lower risk in 18% to 88% and a higher risk in 0% to 12% of simulations. Conversely, with abnormal eGFR, PREVENT identified lower risk in 0% to 26% and higher risk in 4% to 94% of simulations. Conclusions: PREVENT substantially reclassifies risk and has the potential to alter prevention practice patterns. The tendency to assign a lower risk compared to standard algorithms when eGFR is normal may diminish implementation of preventive therapy. National health care systems need to monitor whether such changes improve overall public health.

Investigating the Relationship between Epigenetic Age and Cardiovascular Risk in a Population with Overweight/Obesity.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases stand as the leading global cause of mortality. Major modifiable risk factors encompass overweight/obese conditions, high blood pressure, elevated LDL cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, secondhand smoke exposure, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity. In the present study, we explored the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and epigenetic age (DNAm age), an estimate reflecting an individual's actual physiological functionality and overall health. Additionally, we assessed the association between DNAm age acceleration and cardiovascular risk, as evaluated through the Framingham risk score (FRS). Methods: The study includes 190 subjects with overweight/obese conditions. We calculated their DNAm age using Zbiec-Piekarska et al.'s DNAm age estimator on five sets of CpGs analyzed in the peripheral leucocytes. Linear regression models were employed to test the associations. Results: Various parameters contributing to increased cardiovascular risk were associated with DNAm age acceleration, such as systolic blood pressure (ß = 0.045; SE = 0.019; p = 0.019), heart rate (ß = 0.096; SE = 0.032; p = 0.003), blood glucose (ß = 0.025; SE = 0.012; p = 0.030), glycated hemoglobin (ß = 0.105; SE = 0.042; p = 0.013), diabetes (ß = 2.247; SE = 0.841; p = 0.008), and menopausal conditions (ß = 2.942; SE = 1.207; p = 0.016), as well as neutrophil (ß = 0.100; SE = 0.042; p = 0.018) and granulocyte (ß = 0.095; SE = 0.044; p = 0.033) counts. Moreover, DNAm age acceleration raised the FRS (∆% 5.3%, 95% CI 0.8; 9.9, p = 0.019). Conclusion: For the first time, we report that cardiovascular risk factors accelerated DNAm age in a selected population of hypersusceptible individuals with overweight or obesity. Our results highlight the potential of DNAm age acceleration as a biomarker of cumulative effects in cardiovascular risk assessment.

An Association of Framingham Risk Score with Patient Determined Disease Steps in a Cohort of Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients: An Italian Real-World Monocentric Experience.

BACKGROUND: The associations between Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and cardiovascular diseases, drawn from epidemiological studies, have attracted much attention in recent years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study employed a monocentric, observational, retrospective cohort design. The primary objective of the study was to describe the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) rate in a cross-sectional analysis of our cohort of relapsing-remitting MS patients who are regularly followed up and, if applicable, to identify any association with the patient's Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS). Cardiovascular risk was classified as follows: low if the FRS is less than 10%, moderate if it is 10% to 19%, and high if it is 20% or higher. RESULTS: A total cohort of 229 patients was enrolled. The sample consists of 163 women (71.2%). FRS categories were distributed as follows: 97 (42.3%) patients had low FRS, 84 (36.7%) patients had moderate FRS, and 48 (21%) patients had high FRS. In the univariable ordinal regression analysis, one one-point increase in the PDDS scale was associated with a 24% risk of high FRS (vs. low) (proportional odds ratio [OR] =2.426, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.660-3.545; p <.0001). The results were also confirmed by the EDSS score, with a point increase in the EDSS score associated with a 19% risk of high FRS (vs. low) (proportional OR =1.953, 95% CI 1.429-2.669-1.04; p <.0001). CONCLUSION: The FRS demonstrated an association with the patient's "perception of the disease" as indicated by the PDDS. Further studies with larger cohorts are needed to adequately address cardiovascular risk in life-threatening conditions, such as MS.

Association between gait video information and general cardiovascular diseases: a prospective cross-sectional study.

Aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) may not be detected in time with conventional clinical approaches. Abnormal gait patterns have been associated with pathological conditions and can be monitored continuously by gait video. We aim to test the association between non-contact, video-based gait information and general CVD status. Methods and results: Individuals undergoing confirmatory CVD evaluation were included in a prospective, cross-sectional study. Gait videos were recorded with a Kinect camera. Gait features were extracted from gait videos to correlate with the composite and individual components of CVD, including coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, heart failure, and cerebrovascular events. The incremental value of incorporating gait information with traditional CVD clinical variables was also evaluated. Three hundred fifty-two participants were included in the final analysis [mean (standard deviation) age, 59.4 (9.8) years; 25.3% were female]. Compared with the baseline clinical variable model [area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) 0.717, (0.690-0.743)], the gait feature model demonstrated statistically better performance [AUC 0.753, (0.726-0.780)] in predicting the composite CVD, with further incremental value when incorporated with the clinical variables [AUC 0.764, (0.741-0.786)]. Notably, gait features exhibited varied association with different CVD component conditions, especially for peripheral artery disease [AUC 0.752, (0.728-0.775)] and heart failure [0.733, (0.707-0.758)]. Additional analyses also revealed association of gait information with CVD risk factors and the established CVD risk score. Conclusion: We demonstrated the association and predictive value of non-contact, video-based gait information for general CVD status. Further studies for gait video-based daily living CVD monitoring are promising.

Growth differentiation factor-15 predicts all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with coronary heart disease: a prospective cohort study.

The prognostic value of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) in predicting long-term adverse outcomes in coronary heart disease (CHD) patients remains limited. Our study examines the association between GDF-15 and adverse outcomes over an extended period in CHD patients and firstly assesses the incremental prognostic effect of incorporating GDF-15 into the Framingham risk score (FRS)-based model. This single-center prospective cohort study included 3,321 patients with CHD categorized into 2,479 acute coronary syndrome (ACS) (74.6%) and 842 non-ACS (25.4%) groups. The median age was 61.0 years (range: 53.0-70.0), and 917 (27.6%) were females. Mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) included cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and heart failure (HF) (inclusive of HF episodes requiring outpatient treatment and/or hospital admission). Cox regression models assessed the associations between GDF-15 and the incidence of all-cause mortality and MACEs. Patients were stratified into three groups based on GDF-15 levels: the first tertile group (< 1,370 ng/L), the second tertile group (1,370-2,556 ng/L), and the third tertile group (> 2,556 ng/L). The C-index, integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), net reclassification improvement (NRI), and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess incremental value. Over a median 9.4-year follow-up, 759 patients (22.9%) died, and 1,291 (38.9%) experienced MACEs. The multivariate Cox model indicated that GDF-15 was significantly associated with all-cause mortality (per ln unit increase, HR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.36-1.64) and MACEs (per ln unit increase, HR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.20-1.38). These associations persisted when GDF-15 was analyzed as an ordinal variable (p for trend < 0.05). Subgroup analysis of ACS and non-ACS for the components of MACEs separately showed a significant association between GDF-15 and both cardiovascular mortality and HF, but no association was observed between GDF-15 and MI /stroke in both ACS and non-ACS patients. The addition of GDF-15 to the FRS-based model enhanced the discrimination for both all-cause mortality (∆ C-index = 0.009, 95% CI: 0.005-0.014; IDI = 0.030, 95% CI: 0.015-0.047; continuous NRI = 0.631, 95% CI: 0.569-0.652) and MACEs (∆ C-index = 0.009, 95% CI: 0.006-0.012; IDI = 0.026, 95% CI: 0.009-0.042; continuous NRI = 0.593, 95% CI: 0.478-0.682). DCA suggested that incorporating GDF-15 into the FRS-based model demonstrated higher net benefits compared to FRS-based models alone (All-cause mortality: FRS-based model: area under the curve of DCA (AUDC) = 0.0903, FRS-based model + GDF-15: AUDC = 0.0908; MACEs: FRS-based model: AUDC = 0.1806, FRS-based model + GDF-15: AUDC = 0.1833). GDF-15 significantly associates with the long-term prognosis of all-cause mortality and MACEs in CHD patients and significantly improves the prognostic accuracy of the FRS-based model for both outcomes.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal evaluation of heart-to-brachium pulse wave velocity for cardiovascular disease risk.

Heart-brachium pulse wave velocity (hbPWV) is a promising measure of arterial stiffness including the proximal aorta. To characterize age-associated changes and the clinical utilities of hbPWV, we evaluated the impacts of age and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks on hbPWV cross-sectionally (N = 7868) and longitudinally (N = 3710, followed by 9.1 ± 2.0 years). hbPWV were obtained using two validated equations for arterial path length (with and without considering age-related aortic elongations). Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was used as a comparative measure. Repeated-measures correlation (rmcorr) and regression analyses were used to characterize associations of PWVs with age and Framingham's general CVD risk score (FRS). In the cross-sectional study, hbPWVs derived by both equations showed stronger correlation with age (r = 0.746 ~ 0.796) and FRS (r = 0.714-0.749) than baPWV (r = 0.554 and r = 0.643). Furthermore, hbPWVs correlated with FRS even after controlling for age (r = 0.260 ~ 0.269, P < 0.0001). In the longitudinal study, hbPWVs demonstrated significantly higher rmcorr coefficient with age than baPWV (rrm=0.439-0.511 vs. 0.307, P < 0.0001). Across the adult lifespan, age-related increases in hbPWVs were almost consistent, starting from young adults, while baPWV displayed accelerated increases with age. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that hbPWVs depicted more robust ability to stratify general CVD risk compared with baPWV (AUC = 0.896-0.913 vs. 0.833, P < 0.0001). The results of the follow-up study were consistent with the findings of the cross-sectional investigation. Our findings suggest that hbPWV undergoes a linear augmentation with age, commencing from an early adult life stage onward, rendering it a potential marker for discerning CVD risk.

Ten-year risk of cardiovascular events among the adult population of West Tripura District of India by the Framingham risk score: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Predicting the 10-year risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs) may save lives through timely intervention. Framingham risk scoring (FRS) can effectively predict this risk. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the 10-year risk of CVE using FRS and to estimate the prevalence of CVD risk factors and their associations with FRS among adults in the West Tripura District of India. Methodology: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 1 November 2019 to 30 November 2021 in the West Tripura District of India, using FRS 2008 and a pretested interview schedule among 290 individuals aged ≥ 30 years chosen by multistage sampling. Result: The majority, that is 61.7%, of the study subjects had low risk, 18.6% had intermediate risk and 19.7% had high risk of CVE within 10 years. The prevalence of hypertension was 55.6%; diabetes mellitus, 55.9%; smoking, 96.2%; dyslipidaemia, 34.3%; alcohol consumption, 96.2%; physical inactivity, 54%; and obesity, 64.6%. The bivariate analysis detected a significant association of FRS with age, sex, residence, literacy, marital status, obesity, smoking, alcoholism, blood pressure (BP), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and glycaemic status of the study subjects. The logistic regression analysis has identified age >50 years, male sex, hypertension, smoking and diabetes mellitus as significant determinants of high FRS. Conclusion: Adults living in the West Tripura District of India have a high prevalence of CVD risk factors. About one-fifth of this population has a high risk of CVE in 10 years. Controlling hypertension, smoking and diabetes mellitus may help reduce this risk.

Cardiovascular risk and the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based and case‒control studies.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is associated with increases in morbidity and mortality worldwide. The mechanisms of how SARS-CoV-2 may cause cardiovascular (CV) complications are under investigation. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CV risk. METHODS: These are single-centre Bialystok PLUS (Poland) population-based and case‒control studies. The survey was conducted between 2018 and 2022 on a sample of residents (n = 1507) of a large city in central Europe and patients 6-9 months post-COVID-19 infection (n = 126). The Systematic Coronary Risk Estimation 2 (SCORE2), the Systematic Coronary Risk Estimation 2-Older Persons (SCORE2-OP), the Cardiovascular Disease Framingham Heart Study and the LIFEtime-perspective model for individualizing CardioVascular Disease prevention strategies in apparently healthy people (LIFE-CVD) were used. Subsequently, the study populations were divided into CV risk classes according to the 2021 ESC Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 4 groups: a general population examined before (I, n = 691) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (II, n = 816); a group of 126 patients post-COVID-19 infection (III); and a control group matched subjects chosen from the pre-COVID-19 pandemic (IV). Group II was characterized by lower blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) values than group I. Group III differed from the control group in terms of lower LDL-c level. There was no effect on CV risk in the general population, but in the population post-COVID-19 infection, CV risk was lower using FS-lipids, FS-BMI and LIFE-CVD 10-year risk scores compared to the prepandemic population. In all subgroups analysed, no statistically significant difference was found in the frequency of CV risk classes. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic did not increase the CV risk calculated for primary prevention. Instead, it prompted people to pay attention to their health status, as evidenced by better control of some CV risk factors. As the COVID-19 pandemic has drawn people's attention to health, it is worth exploiting this opportunity to improve public health knowledge through the design of wide-ranging information campaigns.

Prediction of Different Risk Factors in Relation to Hyperlipidemia Using Framingham Risk Score and Cholesterol Risk Score in a Tertiary Care Hospital.

BACKGROUND: A condition that affects the circulatory system of the human body is referred to as a cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are responsible for a significant number of fatalities globally. Annually, CVDs result in the demise of 17.9 million people, which accounts for 31% of all fatalities on a global scale. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess the demographic profile of diabetic and nondiabetic patients suffering from cardiovascular disease. The aim of the study is to predict risk factors in relation to hyperlipidaemia using two different scales, the Framingham Risk Scale (FRS) and the Cholesterol Risk Calculator (CRC), and to determine the frequency of hypercholesterolemia in relation to CVD. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Punjab, India. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was found to be M= (51.23), SD= (9.348) years, and among 331 patients (52.6%) were female patients. The mean of Framingham Risk Score was found to be (29.07%). The Framingham Risk Score was found significant with gender and calorie intake below the recommended dietary allowances of the patient (p=0.001). The Framingham Risk Score was found significant with physical activity and employment status of the patients (p= 0.001). In linear regression, the Framingham Risk Score was found significant with the lipid profile of the patients (p=0.001) i.e., the higher the value of cholesterol level, the higher the Framingham Risk Score. The chi-square test showed a significant relation between Cholesterol Risk Score and employment status, physical activity, calorie intake, gender, and occupation of the patients (p=0.001, p=0.001, p=0.001, p=0.004) respectively. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that patients with high Framingham risk score and cholesterol risk score are at increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The present study concludes that the FRS is higher in patients below RDA, patients doing low physical activity, and sedentary workers. In order to provide proper assistance and counselling, healthcare professionals must continuously analyze each patient's risk factor for CVD and barriers to healthy and preventive behaviors. There is a lack of comprehensive studies comparing the effectiveness of the Framingham Risk Score and Cholesterol Risk Score in predicting hyperlipidemia and associated cardiovascular risks within the context of a tertiary care hospital setting.

Joint association of cardiovascular health and frailty with all-cause and cause-specific mortality: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Poor cardiovascular health (CVH) and physical frailty were reported to increase mortality risk, but their joint effects have not been fully elucidated. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to explore the separate and joint effects of CVH and frailty on mortality based on two perspectives of Life's Essential 8 (LE8) and Framingham Risk Score (FRS). METHODS: 21 062 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2018 were involved in this study. CVH was evaluated by the LE8 and FRS, and categorized into low, moderate and high CVH groups. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to estimate the separate and joint associations of CVH and frailty index (FI) with all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up period of 87 months (95% CI: 86.0-88.0), 2036 deaths occurred. The separate linear dose-response relationships between CVH, frailty and mortality were observed (nonlinear P > .05). The combination of low CVH/frailty was negatively associated with all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) and 95%CI: low LE8*FI, 5.30 (3.74, 7.52); high FRS*FI, 4.34 (3.20, 5.88)], CVD mortality [low LE8*FI, 6.57 (3.54, 12.22); high FRS*FI, 7.29 (3.92, 13.55)] and cancer mortality [low LE8*FI, 1.99 (1.14, 3.25); high FRS*FI, 2.32 (1.30, 4.15)], with high CVH/fit group as reference. Further stratified analyses showed that the combined burden of mortality from frailty and low CVH was greater among the young and females. CONCLUSIONS: Low CVH and frailty were independently and jointly correlated with greater risk of all-cause, CVD and cancer deaths, especially among the young and females.

Lipidomic Risk Score to Enhance Cardiovascular Risk Stratification for Primary Prevention.

BACKGROUND: Accurate risk stratification is vital for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, traditional tools such as the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) may underperform within the diverse intermediate-risk group, which includes individuals requiring distinct management strategies. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to develop a lipidomic-enhanced risk score (LRS), specifically targeting risk prediction and reclassification within the intermediate group, benchmarked against the FRS. METHODS: The LRS was developed via a machine learning workflow using ridge regression on the Australian Diabetes, Obesity, and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab; n = 10,339). It was externally validated with the Busselton Health Study (n = 4,492), and its predictive utility for coronary artery calcium scoring (CACS)-based outcomes was independently validated in the BioHEART cohort (n = 994). RESULTS: LRS significantly improved discrimination metrics for the intermediate-risk group in both AusDiab and Busselton Health Study cohorts (all P < 0.001), increasing the area under the curve for CVD events by 0.114 (95% CI: 0.1123-0.1157) and 0.077 (95% CI: 0.0755-0.0785), with a net reclassification improvement of 0.36 (95% CI: 0.21-0.51) and 0.33 (95% CI: 0.15-0.49), respectively. For CACS-based outcomes in BioHEART, LRS achieved a significant area under the curve improvement of 0.02 over the FRS (0.76 vs 0.74; P < 1.0 × 10-5). A simplified, clinically applicable version of LRS was also created that had comparable performance to the original LRS. CONCLUSIONS: LRS, augmenting the FRS, presents potential to improve intermediate-risk stratification and to predict atherosclerotic markers using a simple blood test, suitable for clinical application. This could facilitate the triage of individuals for noninvasive imaging such as CACS, fostering precision medicine in CVD prevention and management.

A parallel-arm randomised control trial to study the effects of risk communication methods for prevention of cardiovascular diseases: EFFRICO trial.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have many risk factors; few can be modified through health education. Traditional patient counselling methods fail to impact health behaviours to prevent or reduce the risk of CVDs. Objectives: This study was conducted to estimate the effect of various risk communication methods on CVD risk reduction and medication adherence. Design: An open-label superiority randomised control trial was conducted where 159 patients were randomised into three groups: Communication of 10-year Framingham CVD risk score, heart age, and routine care. Follow-up was done 3 months after recruitment. The primary outcome was a difference in excess 10-year Framingham CVD risk score in the end-line compared to baseline. The status of modifiable behavioural risk factors at baseline was expressed as 'yes' and 'no', and follow-up was defined as 'action', 'positive maintenance', 'negative maintenance', and 'defaulter'. The trial was registered with the Clinical Trials Registry India (CTRI NO. CTRI/2020/10/028614). Setting: The study setting was screening outpatient department (OPD), General Medicine OPD, and Cardiology OPD of a tertiary care hospital in Central India. Participants: Participants aged >30 years, residing in Bhopal for more than 6 months, diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes mellitus or both, and having any of the four CVD behavioural risk factors: tobacco use, alcohol use, physical inactivity, or unhealthy diet. Results: Median excess 10-year Framingham CVD risk scores were 0.945% (CI: 1.275-4.297), -0.850% (-3.932-2.075), and -1.300% (-5.100-0.900) (10-year Framingham CVD risk score vs Heart age vs Routine care) and 0.000% (-3.125-5.925), -1.600% (-3.760-1.475), and -1.400% (-6.600-5.900) before and after intervention, respectively (P > 0.05). Positive maintenance was higher in both intervention groups concerning all modifiable behaviours, with a higher proportion reported in the 10-year Framingham risk score. The action phase was reported higher in intervention groups for medication adherence, addiction, and dietary changes. Conclusion: Systematic risk communication methods reduced the probability of contracting CVD in the future, though this finding was statistically insignificant.

A study to assess the effect of yoga and diet on Framingham risk score among high-risk cardiovascular subjects.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a cluster of disorders of blood vessels and the heart. As a form of physical activity, yoga postures, and pranayama have been shown to be beneficial in various health conditions, i.e. hypertension, prediabetes, and diabetes among high-risk subjects. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of yoga and diet on the Framingham risk score (FRS) among high-risk cardiovascular subjects. Materials and Methods: The experimental interventional study was conducted at "RUHS College of Medical Sciences" and Associated Group of Hospitals", Jaipur among high-risk cardiovascular subjects. FRS was used as a measurement for the outcome of interest at baseline and six months of yoga diet intervention in the study and control groups. Results: Mean age of participants was 48.43 ± 6.4 years. Baseline values (mean ± SD) of FRS 24.59 ± 10.15 after six months of yogic lifestyle 15.1 ± 7.05. After six months of yogic lifestyle FRS scores and estimated 10-year cardiovascular risk were statistically significantly (P < 0.0001) decreased. Pearson correlation analysis results depict that FRS correlation. There was a strong positive correlation between the FRS score and total cholesterol (r = 0.787; P < 0.001) and a negative strong correlation between the FRS score and high-density lipoprotein was observed (r =-0.621; P < 0.002). Conclusion: The findings of this study conclude that six months of yoga and diet lifestyle intervention significantly decreased FRS among high-risk CVD subjects compared to the control group.

Association between health literacy and Framingham risk score.

High health literacy (HL) plays a critical role in preventing or delaying the onset of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and can improve disease management and control. The present study aims to determine the association between HL and non-laboratory-based (office-based) Framingham 10-year risk score of CVD. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 648 people aged 30-65 in the health centers of Jahrom. The Health Literacy Instrument for Adults (HELIA) was used to assess HL. The non-laboratory-based Framingham risk score (FRS) was utilized to determine the 10-year risk of CVDs. Risk factors such as age, gender, diabetes, current smoking status, systolic blood pressure (SBP), hypertension (HTN) treatment, and body mass index (BMI) were applied in the non-laboratory-based model. The average age of the subjects was 44.7 ± 10.5 years, among which 49.2% were males. The prevalence of diabetes, HTN, and smoking equaled 8.5%, 15.7%, and 10%, respectively. In addition, the average BMI was 26.1 ± 3.6 kg/m2. Based on the non-laboratory-based Framingham 10-year risk score of CVD, 72.5%, 13.9%, and 13.6% of the subjects were in the low, moderate, and high risk groups, respectively. Based on the HL grouping, the levels of insufficient, borderline, sufficient, and excellent HL were 19.3%, 26.4%, 34.6%, and 19.7%, respectively. A significant association was observed between 10-year CVD risk and HL grouping. In addition, a negative correlation was reported at the individual level between HL and non-laboratory-based FRS among the whole population (r = - 0.39, p < 0.001), men (r = - 0.32, p < 0.001), and women (r = - 0.42, p < 0.001). A higher HL score is associated with a lower risk of CVD. In addition, the adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that there was a strong association between elevated CVD risk (≥ 10%) and HL (OR 6.1, 95% CI 2.9-12.6) among inadequate HL participants compared with excellent HL individuals. Thus, designing and implementing training programs to increase HL, especially among those who are at risk of CVDs, should be regarded as an important issue for the prevention of such diseases.

SCORE2 Screening Tool for Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Psoriasis-A Case-Control Study.

Background: Psoriasis is a common, T-cell-mediated inflammatory and immune-mediated skin disease. Numerous studies confirmed that patients with psoriasis have a significant frequency of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and CV diseases (CVDs). Risk stratification is helpful in light of the elevated risk of CVD in psoriasis patients. SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP, a new algorithm derived, calibrated and validated to predict the 10-year risk of first-onset CVD in European populations, enhances the identification of individuals at higher risk of developing CVD across Europe. Objective: Using the SCORE2 and SCORE2-OP scoring systems, the current study objective was to evaluate CV risk in Slovak psoriasis patients and the relationship between CV risk and psoriasis features in a real-world setting. Results: A case-control study was conducted involving 115 outpatients with plaque psoriasis and 66 age- and gender-matched controls with skin conditions other than psoriasis. Patients with psoriasis had significantly higher mean SCORE2 values. In the age group up to 50 years, more psoriasis patients were classified as moderate risk than controls (33.8% vs. 13.6%, p = 0.010); the high-risk category was dominated by psoriasis patients. Analysing the relationship between CV risk and selected variables, we determined, using linear regression, the dependence of the SCORE2 risk score on gender in the age group up to 50 years, on age in both age groups, on waist circumference (WC) in the category up to 50 years and on the duration and severity of psoriasis in both age groups using linear regression. For individuals older than 70, we estimated the SCORE2-OP risk score, with the average risk score being 19.5 ± 4.95. We did not observe controls with a high risk score. Psoriasis patients were more likely to be smokers and had significantly higher mean values for body mass index (BMI), WC, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and systolic blood pressure (BP). Conclusions: Because CV risk factors and psoriasis are strongly related, the importance of CV risk stratification is growing, and initiating preventive lifestyle changes or therapeutic interventions in patients with psoriasis is warranted.

A lower eGFRcystatin C/eGFRcreatinine ratio is associated with greater cardiovascular risk (higher Framingham Risk Score) in Chinese patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. Shrunken pore syndrome (SPS) is defined as eGFRcystatin C/eGFRcreatinine ratio <0.70 and predicts high CVD mortality. The Framingham Risk Score (FRS) is used to estimate an individual's 10-year CVD risk. This study investigated the association between FRS and eGFRcystatin C/eGFRcreatinine ratio in T2DM patients. METHODS: Patients aged 18-80 years who were newly diagnosed with T2DM were included in this retrospective study. Ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between risk factors of T2DM and FRS. A Generalized Linear Model was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: There were 270 patients included in the study. Only 27 patients (10%) met the diagnostic criteria of SPS. Ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that SPS was not correlated with FRS risk (OR = 1.99, 95%CI = 0.94-4.23, p = 0.07), whereas eGFRcystatin C/eGFRcreatinine (OR = 0.86, 95%CI = 0.77-0.97, p = 0.01) showed a significant negative association with FRS risk. Compared with eGFRcystatin C/eGFRcreatinine>0.85, eGFRcystatin C/eGFRcreatinine≤0.85 increased FRS risk (OR = 1.95, 95%CI = 1.18-3.21, p < 0.01). After adjustment for confounding factors, increased eGFRcystatin C/eGFRcreatinine ratio was associated with decreased FRS risk when considered as a continuous variable (OR = 0.87, 95%CI = 0.77-0.99, p = 0.03). The FRS risk in patients with eGFRcystatin C/eGFRcreatinine≤0.85 is 1.86 times higher than that in patients with eGFRcystatin C/eGFRcreatinine>0.85 (OR = 1.86, 95%CI = 1.08-3.21, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In the current study, no significant association between SPS and FRS was identified. However, lower eGFRcystatin C/eGFRcreatinine and eGFRcystatin C/eGFRcreatinine≤0.85 were associated with a significantly increased CVD risk in T2DM.

Framingham risk scores for determination the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease in participants with and without the metabolic syndrome: results of the Fasa Persian cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors and the Framingham risk score (FRS) is a useful metric for measuring the 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk of the population. The present study aimed to determine the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease using the Framingham risk score in people with and without MetS in a large Iranian cohort study. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was done using the Fasa cohort. Participants aged ≥ 35 years old were recruited to the study from 2015 to 2016. The FRS was calculated using age, sex, current smoking, diabetes, systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. MetS was defined as the presence of three or more of the MetS risk factors including triglyceride (TG) level ≥ 150 mg dl- 1, HDL level < 40 mg dl- 1 in men and < 50 mg dl- 1 in women, systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥ 130/≥85 mmHg or using medicine for hypertension, fasting blood sugar (FBS) level ≥ 100 mg dl- 1 or using diabetes medication and abdominal obesity considered as waist circumference (WC) ≥ 88 cm for women and ≥ 102 cm for men. Multiple logistic regressions were applied to estimate the 10- year CVD risk among people with and without MetS. RESULTS: Of 8949 participants, 1928 people (21.6%) had MetS. The mean age of the participants with and without Mets was 50.4 ± 9.2 years and 46.9 ± 9.1 years respectively. In total 15.3% of participants with MetS and 8.0% of participants without MetS were in the high-risk category of 10-year CVD risk. Among participants with MetS gender, TG, SBP, FBS and in people without MetS gender, TG, SBP, FBS, and HDL showed strong associations with the predicted 10-year CVD risk. CONCLUSION: Male sex and increased SBP, TG, and FBS parameters were strongly associated with increased 10-year risk of CVD in people with and without MetS. In people without MetS, reduced HDL-cholestrol was strongly associated with increased 10-year risk of CVD. The recognition of participant's TG, blood pressure (BP), FBS and planning appropriate lifestyle interventions related to these characteristics is an important step towards prevention of CVD.