Comparison of Novel Risk Markers for Improvement in Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Intermediate-Risk Individuals

Abstract

Current trends in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) emphasize the need to treat individuals based on their global cardiovascular risk.¹ Accordingly, practice guidelines recommend approaches to classify individuals as high, intermediate, or low risk using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) or other similar CVD risk prediction models.^2,3 However, there is increasing recognition of the imprecision of these classifications such that the intermediate-risk group actually represents a composite of higher-risk individuals for whom more aggressive (ie, drug) therapy might be indicated. The intermediate-risk group also contains lower-risk individuals in whom CVD might be managed with lifestyle measures alone. This recognition has motivated researchers to identify markers that could offer greater discrimination of higher- and lower-risk patients within the intermediate-risk group.