Evaluating CMR

Key findings of the PROCAM study

This study showed that both risk functions clearly overestimated the absolute CHD risk of men from Belfast and France. Therefore, while PROCAM risk functions may be suitable for classifying individuals according to their estimated absolute CHD risk, they may be inappropriate to estimate absolute CHD risk among healthy middle-aged men from low-risk (France) and high-risk (Belfast) populations, as this leads to a clear overestimate. These results highlight the need to perform additional cohort studies in various ethnic groups and parts of the world to provide risk assessment tools that are relevant to other populations.

In summary, the PROCAM risk score provides a simple, practical way to estimate CHD risk using commonly measured risk factors. Moreover, in clinical practice, the online PROCAM Risk Calculator (10) developed by the International Task Force for Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease offers a fast and easy way to estimate CHD risk within the next 10 years.

For more information, please visit the International Task Force for Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease website at http://www.chd-taskforce.com/index.htm