Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Hydra, a Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Cardiovascular Analysis and Diagnosis
07:51

Hydra, a Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Cardiovascular Analysis and Diagnosis

Published on: September 26, 2018

ASCORE: an up-to-date cardiovascular risk score for hypertensive patients reflecting contemporary clinical practice

D Prieto-Merino1, J Dobson, A K Gupta

  • 1Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. david.prieto@lshtm.ac.uk

Journal of Human Hypertension
|February 15, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Existing cardiovascular risk scores may overestimate risk in hypertensive patients on modern treatments. A new score, ASCORE, developed from contemporary data, offers a more accurate prediction of 5-year cardiovascular events.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Preventive Medicine
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Numerous cardiovascular (CV) risk scores exist but may lack accuracy for contemporary patients.
  • Hypertensive patients now benefit from advanced treatments and management strategies, necessitating updated risk prediction tools.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and validate a new risk score (ASCORE) for predicting the 5-year risk of a first CV event in hypertensive patients.
  • To compare the performance of the new risk score against existing scores like the Framingham risk score.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 15,955 hypertensive patients without prior CV disease from the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial-BPLA.
  • Employed Cox proportional hazard models to identify baseline predictors for the risk equation.
  • Developed a comprehensive model (ASCORE) and a simplified version (ASCORE-S) excluding laboratory variables.

Main Results:

  • The ASCORE model, incorporating age, sex, smoking, diabetes, BP treatment, systolic BP, cholesterol, glucose, and creatinine, demonstrated strong internal validity.
  • A simplified ASCORE-S model was also derived, showing good predictive performance.
  • The Framingham risk score significantly overpredicted the observed 5-year CV risk in this cohort.

Conclusions:

  • Risk scores based on older data may overestimate CV risk in patients receiving current blood pressure treatments.
  • Updated risk scores, like ASCORE, are essential for accurate CV risk assessment in contemporary hypertensive populations.
  • User-friendly integer score tables are provided for practical clinical application.

Related Concept Videos

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT01:25

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System VI: Calcium -Scoring CT

Calcium-Scoring CT ScanA calcium-scoring CT scan, also known as coronary artery calcium (CAC) scan, detects calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. This test assesses the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to cardiovascular events such as angina, heart failure, and sudden cardiac arrest.A calcium-scoring CT scan is generally recommended for individuals at intermediate risk of CAD without symptoms. It includes:Men aged 40-75 and women aged 50-75: Especially those with a...
Atherosclerosis III: Management01:26

Atherosclerosis III: Management

Management of atherosclerosis involves an integrated strategy encompassing pharmacological treatment, surgical interventions, lifestyle changes, and nutrition therapy to address the multifactorial nature of the disease.Pharmacological TherapyA cornerstone of atherosclerosis management is the use of pharmacological agents. Statins, such as atorvastatin, are pivotal in inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that catalyzes an initial step in cholesterol synthesis in the liver. This reduction in...
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches01:23

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Assessment of blood pressure in brachial artery(two-step method)01:23

Assessment of blood pressure in brachial artery(two-step method)

Measuring blood pressure is a fundamental skill in healthcare that aids in diagnosing and monitoring hypertension and other cardiovascular conditions. An aneroid sphygmomanometer, commonly used in clinical settings, offers a manual and precise method for blood pressure measurement. The technique for using this instrument involves specific steps that must be carefully executed to ensure accuracy. The following detailed description outlines a two-step technique for assessing blood pressure using...
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:30

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
Pre-Procedural Guidelines for Assessing Blood Pressure01:10

Pre-Procedural Guidelines for Assessing Blood Pressure

Accurate blood pressure assessment is crucial for diagnosing and managing various health conditions. To ensure the reliability of these measurements, healthcare professionals must adhere to standardized pre-procedural guidelines. These guidelines enhance patient safety and improve the overall quality of healthcare. The following steps are essential for obtaining accurate and consistent blood pressure readings, from using the appropriate tools to ensuring effective communication with the patient.