Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk in the PURE Poland Cohort Study Using the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation...

The SCORE (Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation) scale is useful for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk stratification. However, there is a new biomarker, namely, galectin-3 (gal-3), that offers additional predictive value. This cross-sectional study assessed the relationship between serum gal-3 concentrations and CVD risk based on the SCORE scale in a Polish cohort from the PURE study. A total of 259 participants with complete cholesterol, blood pressure (BP), and smoking data were included. Individuals with myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetes, or renal failure were excluded. Gal-3 concentrations were measured using ELISA, and statistical analyses examined associations with SCORE categories. The median gal-3 concentration was 221.32(161.64-360.00) ng/mL. Higher gal-3 concentrations were found in older individuals, smokers, and those with elevated BP(p < 0.05). Positive correlations were observed with SCORE values (r = 0.39) and systolic BP (r = 0.64). Participants with SCORE ≥5% had significantly higher gal-3 concentrations. ROC analysis showed moderate diagnostic value for SCORE ≥ 10% (sensitivity 0.618 and specificity 0.810). Higher SCORE and diastolic BP are independent risk factors for increased galectin-3 concentrations, explaining 79.5% of the variance in the studied group. Serum gal-3 is significantly associated with CVD risk estimated by SCORE, supporting its potential role in risk stratification.