A recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association reveals the effectiveness of the PREVENT risk calculator in estimating cardiovascular disease risk. Researchers analyzed electronic health records of nearly 7,000 adults in New York City to validate the tool's predictive capabilities. The PREVENT calculator, developed by the American Heart Association in 2023, estimates 10-year and 30-year risks for heart attack, stroke, and heart failure in adults aged 30 and older. By considering factors such as age, blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index, diabetes status, social determinants of health, smoking, and kidney function, the tool provides a comprehensive risk assessment.
In the study, researchers found that PREVENT scores directly correlated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores. Approximately 43.6% of participants had a low heart attack risk (less than 5%), while 6.2% were identified as high-risk (more than 20%). When combined with CAC scores, the risk prediction accuracy improved significantly. Dr. Morgan Grams, the study's corresponding author, emphasized the importance of these findings in tailoring patient care and determining appropriate preventive treatments. By identifying individuals with subclinical cardiovascular disease risk, healthcare providers can potentially intervene earlier and more effectively.
The research highlights the potential of the PREVENT calculator as a valuable tool in cardiovascular risk assessment. However, the study acknowledges limitations, including a predominantly white participant pool and a relatively short follow-up period of 1.2 years. As cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, tools like PREVENT offer promise in developing more personalized prevention strategies. The study suggests that combining risk calculators with imaging techniques like coronary computed tomography angiography could provide more comprehensive insights into an individual's heart health. The findings published in the Journal of the American Heart Association demonstrate how this tool could transform preventive cardiology by enabling earlier identification of at-risk individuals who might benefit from targeted interventions.
