Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation 2 for Older Persons (SCORE2-OP): 10 years risk validation, clinical utility and potential improvement.

Abstract

Aims: European Systematic Coronary Risk Assessment 2 for Older Persons (SCORE2-OP) model has shown modest performance when externally validated in selected cohorts. We aim to investigate its predictive performance and clinical utility for 10-years cardiovascular (CV) risk in an unbiased and representative cohort of older people of a low CV risk country. Furthermore, we explore whether other clinical or echocardiographic features could improve its performance.

Methods and results: A cohort of randomly selected individuals ≥ 65 years from a primary care population of Barcelona without established cardiovascular disease included 791 patients (63.1% female, median age 76 years, median follow-up 11.8 years). The model's performance yielded a Harrell's C-statistic of 0.706 (95% CI 0.659-0.753) for the primary endpoint (myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular mortality) and 0.692 (95% CI 0.649-0.734) for the secondary endpoint (primary endpoint plus heart failure hospitalization), with better discrimination in females. SCORE2-OP underestimated the risk of primary endpoint in women (Expected[E]/Observed[O]=0.77), slightly overestimated in men (E/O=1.06), and systematically underestimated the risk of the secondary endpoint (E/O=0.52). Decision curve analysis showed net clinical benefit across a 7.5-30% risk range for primary endpoint. Valvular calcification was the only variable that significantly improved 10-year SCORE2-OP risk performance for both primary and secondary endpoints, with a change in Harrell's C of 0.028 (P=0.017).

Conclusion: In a low CV risk country, SCORE2-OP showed notable discrimination and excellent calibration to predict 10-year cardiovascular risk, with better performance in females. Incorporating valvular calcification in a future revised score may enhance accuracy and reduce unnecessary treatments.