Comparison of sensitivity of the traditional score chart and sensitivity of the score chart using low-density cholesterol level as one of the fatal cardiovascular disease risk factors

To estimate whether using of LDL level as a variable increases the SCORE chart sensitiveness. This retrospective study was conducted at the family doctor’s practice in Riga examining 460 patient's records corresponding to the SCORE chart criteria. The sensitivity of the traditional SCORE chart was compared with its alternative version. In the alternative SCORE chart, the level of LDL was taken as equal with the level of total cholesterol if the difference between them was two units. Differences in the predicted risk level appeared when the level value differed from each other by more than 2 units. Data processing and analysis was performed using the Microsoft Excel, SPSS, and the Spearman correlation coefficient. The calculated risk level and actual fatal CVD correlation in the next decade in the alternative version of the SCORE chart is slightly stronger than in its traditional version, respectively, 0.13 (p < 0.05) and 0.15 (p < 0.01). Among CVD patients, the traditional SCORE chart identified increased risk (> 5%) in 41%, however the alternative chart recognized 2% more, namely 43%. Replacing one of variables - total cholesterol with LDL makes the SCORE chart slightly more sensitive. Unfortunately, in both versions, the correlation between the risk level of fatal CVD and real CVD events in the next ten years is weak, and more than 50% of patients with fatal CVD in the future remain unidentified as high-risk patients. However, even small improvements in the sensitivity of this test deserve attention and possible revision of the SCORE chart.