Researchers at New York University Grossman School of Medicine have validated the American Heart Association's PREVENT risk calculator, finding it can accurately estimate 10-year cardiovascular disease risk and identify individuals with potential heart artery plaque buildup.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, analyzed nearly 7,000 adults in New York City. Researchers discovered that the PREVENT tool effectively correlates risk scores with coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores, providing a more comprehensive approach to assessing heart attack risk.
Key findings revealed that PREVENT scores directly matched CAC scores, with higher risk scores corresponding to increased calcium buildup in heart arteries. Approximately 43.6% of participants had a low heart attack risk (less than 5%), while 6.2% were categorized as high-risk (more than 20%).
Dr. Morgan Grams, the study's corresponding author, emphasized the significance of these findings, noting that improved risk prediction allows for more tailored patient care and potential preventive treatments such as cholesterol-lowering medications.
The research demonstrated that combining PREVENT scores with CAC scores further enhanced risk prediction accuracy. This approach could help healthcare providers more precisely identify patients who might benefit from early intervention strategies.
While the study offers promising insights, researchers acknowledged limitations, including a predominantly white participant pool and a relatively short follow-up period of 1.2 years. These factors suggest the need for additional research with more diverse populations and longer-term tracking.
