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Cardiovascular risk prediction in the general population with use of suPAR, CRP, and Framingham Risk Score

Stig Lyngbæk1, Jacob L Marott, Thomas Sehestedt

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital Gentofte, Denmark. stiglyngbaek@gmail.com

International Journal of Cardiology
|August 23, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) significantly improve cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction. Combining these biomarkers with the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) enhances prognostic accuracy for both men and women.

Area of Science:

  • Biomarkers and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prediction
  • Inflammatory Markers in Atherosclerosis
  • Preventive Cardiology

Background:

  • Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are known independent predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • The combined prognostic value of suPAR and CRP, particularly when integrated with the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the incremental prognostic value of suPAR and CRP, both individually and in combination with FRS, for predicting cardiovascular events.

Main Methods:

  • Baseline suPAR and CRP levels were measured in 2315 healthy Danish adults (mean age 53.9 years) from 1993-1994.
  • Participants were followed for a composite outcome of ischemic heart disease, stroke, and CVD mortality over a median of 12.7 years.

Main Results:

  • Elevated suPAR levels were associated with increased CVD risk in both men and women, even after adjusting for FRS.
  • Combining suPAR and CRP demonstrated substantially stronger risk prediction than either biomarker or FRS alone.
  • The combined use of suPAR and CRP reclassified individuals with intermediate FRS risk into low or high-risk categories, significantly improving risk prediction models (C-statistics and integrated discrimination improvement).

Conclusions:

  • suPAR offers valuable prognostic information for CVD risk that extends beyond the FRS.
  • Integrating suPAR and CRP significantly enhances cardiovascular risk prediction, offering a more precise assessment for clinical decision-making.
Abstract

Keywords:
BiomarkersC-reactive proteinCardiovascular riskFramingham Risk ScoreSoluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor

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