Biochemical markers of cardiovascular disease risk
Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement
Record ID 32003000537
English
Authors' objectives:
This review aims to assess the available evidence on the use of biochemical markers in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease risk.
Authors' recommendations:
With regard to biochemical markers of cardiovascular disease risk, the ICSI Technology Assessment Committee finds:
The basic lipid profile (high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides) provides a useful indication of cardiovascular disease risk and serves as a guide for statin therapy in a primary prevention context.
C-reactive protein (CRP), if measured by high-sensitivity assay (hs-CRP), may have independent value as a predictor of cardiovascular disease risk and independent value in identifying patients with normal lipids who could benefit from treatment (Conclusion Grade II). hs-CRP elevations can be caused by inflammatory conditions and, therefore, are not specific for cardiovascular assessment in individual patients. Further study is needed to determine if decreasing CRP levels would decrease cardiovascular disease risk.
The relevance of studies of tHcy as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease is unclear given the decreasing tHcy levels as a result of mandatory folic acid supplementation. It remains unproven whether lowered tHcy levels will result in reduced morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease.
Other biochemical markers do not add to the prediction of risk above that achieved using lipid measures and hs-CRP.
Assessment of the markers is safe, requiring only a blood sample for analysis.
Authors' methods:
Review
Details
Project Status:
Completed
URL for project:
http://www.icsi.org/index.asp
Year Published:
2003
English language abstract:
An English language summary is available
Publication Type:
Not Assigned
Country:
United States
MeSH Terms
- Biomarkers
- Cardiovascular Diseases
- Risk Assessment
- Risk Factors
Contact
Organisation Name:
Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement
Contact Address:
8009 34th Avenue South, Suite 1200, Bloomington, MN, USA. Tel: +1 952 814 7060; Fax: +1 952 858 9675
Contact Name:
icsi.info@icsi.org
Contact Email:
icsi.info@icsi.org
Copyright:
Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI)
This is a bibliographic record of a published health technology assessment from a member of INAHTA or other HTA producer. No evaluation of the quality of this assessment has been made for the HTA database.