Cardiovascular risk assessment using SCORE2 in a population with hypertension - The reality at a primary health care unit.

Introduction and objectives: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Portugal, thus it is important to identify individuals at risk. Patients with hypertension have an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular (CV) events. The role of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) in atherosclerotic CVD is well-established. SCORE2, a new CV risk calculation tool, is used to predict the 10-year risk of fatal or non-fatal CVD. The aim of this study was to understand the impact of SCORE2 on CV risk assessment in a population with hypertension from a moderate risk country, compared to the previously used SCORE.

Methods: This observational cross-sectional study analyzed a population census of 3146 patients diagnosed with hypertension without complications (K86). After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 654 patients were included. Data from medical records were collected to calculate and compare SCORE and SCORE2 categories and LDL-C targets.

Results: Patients were classified into SCORE categories: 188 (28.75%) low, 448 (68.5%) moderate, 17 (2.6%) high and 1 (0.15%) very high risk. Using SCORE2, individuals in the SCORE low risk category were reclassified, requiring new targets: 149 individuals (80%) as low to moderate and 39 (20%) as high risk. These differences became more evident when considering SCORE moderate and high-risk categories, where 358 patients (77%) received a higher CV risk categorization, and therefore a lower LDL-C target. There was a significant increase in individuals failing to meet the target when using SCORE2, compared to SCORE (p<0.001).

Conclusion: These findings support the importance of CV risk assessment using SCORE2 algorithm in patients with hypertension.