Cardiovascular risk assessment in Portugal's primary health care system: SCORE vs. SCORE2.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The 2021 European Society of Cardiology guidelines on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention introduced the more accurate SCORE2 risk model as a replacement for the earlier SCORE, which is still used in primary care software in Portugal. Our objective is to determine whether the difference between risk assessment using SCORE and SCORE2, in the same patient population, is statistically significant. METHODS: A total of 1642 patients aged 40-65 without previous CVD, from the medical records of two Family Health Units, were included in this cross-sectional study. SCORE and SCORE2 were calculated using the variables gender, age, smoking status, lipid profile and systolic blood pressure. A statistical analysis was performed on the results. RESULTS: Using SCORE, 98% of the patients were in the low-moderate risk categories and 2% in the high or very high risk categories. When using SCORE2, the corresponding percentages were 55% and 45%, respectively. Reclassification with SCORE2 into higher categories was more often observed in younger (under 50 years of age) and male patients. With SCORE, 38.61% of patients were within the LDL-C target range; this figure fell to 20.28% with SCORE2. These differences are statistically significant (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our findings show that a significant number of patients in this cohort who were classified through SCORE at lower risk levels were reclassified into higher risk categories with SCORE2. Similarly, the number of patients within the LDL-C target range for LDL-C was also lower using SCORE2.

Colonic Leiomyoma: A Case Report of an Uncommon Endoscopic Finding.

Leiomyomas are rare, benign tumors composed of smooth muscle cells. When found in the colon, they account for only about 3% of gastrointestinal leiomyomas. Typically asymptomatic, they are often incidentally discovered during endoscopic evaluations. This report describes the case of a 71-year-old female with abdominal pain and distension, whose colonoscopy revealed a 7 mm sessile polyp in the sigmoid colon. Histological analysis confirmed it to be a submucosal leiomyoma. Although endoscopic resection is a common therapeutic strategy, surgical treatment may be necessary for larger tumors or when malignancy is suspected. This case emphasizes the limitations of polyp classification through endoscopy alone and the important role histopathological analysis continues to play in this regard. Accurately diagnosing these lesions is crucial for appropriate treatment and surveillance, namely, in the primary healthcare context. Further research is needed to improve diagnostic capabilities and reduce the need for repeat colonoscopies, reducing patient burden.