Long-term prediction of major coronary or ischaemic stroke event in a low-incidence Southern European population: model development and evaluation of clinical utility. Issue 11 (12th November 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Veronesi, Giovanni; Gianfagna, Francesco; Chambless, Lloyd E; Giampaoli, Simona; Mancia, Giuseppe; Cesana, Giancarlo; Ferrario, Marco M
• Is Part Of: BMJ open. Volume 3:Issue 11(2013)
• Publication Date: 2013-11-12
• Subjects: Preventive Medicine; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; 610.72
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003630
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-6055

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To develop a long-term prediction model of first major cardiovascular event and to assess its clinical utility in a low-incidence European population. Setting: Four independent population-based cohorts enrolled between 1986 and 1993 in Northern Italy. Participants and methods: N=5247 35-year-old to 69-year-old men and women free of cardiovascular disease at baseline. Absolute 20-year risk of first fatal or non-fatal coronary or ischaemic stroke event (monitoring trends and determinants in cardiovascular disease (MONICA) validated) was estimated from gender-specific Cox models. Main outcome measures: Model discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC)-curve, AUC). 'High-risk' subjects were identified based on several threshold values for the 20-year predicted risk. Clinical utility was defined in terms of fraction of missed events (events among those considered at low-risk) and unnecessary treatment (false:true positive ratio). A net benefit curve was also provided. Results: Kaplan-Meier 20-year risk was 16.1% in men (315 events) and 6.1% in women (123 events). Model discrimination (AUC=0.737 in men, 0.801 in women) did not change significantly as compared to 10-year prediction time interval. In men, with respect to risk stratification based on the number of risk factors, a 20% predicted risk cut-off would miss less events (36% vs 50%) and reduce unnecessary treatment (false:true positive ratio 2.2 vs 3.0); the net benefit was higher over the whole range of threshold values. Similar considerations hold for women. Conclusions: Long-term prediction has good discrimination ability and is clinically useful for risk stratification in primary prevention. A clinical utility analysis is recommended to identify the optimal stratification according to different public health goals.