How to assess a risk of subclinical atherosclerosis?

Keynote speaker: Vilmundur Gudnason

Dr. Gudnason is a Professor in University of Iceland.  He has also been the director of the Icelandic Heart Association Research Institute since 1999. Previously Dr Gudnason was the director of the Genetic Laboratories of the Icelandic Heart Association from 1995-1999. Dr Gudnason has been professor in Cardiovascular Genetics at the University of Iceland since 1997 and a visiting senior research fellow at the Institute of Public Health and Primary Prevention, University of Cambridge, England since 2002. Dr Gudnason received his MD degree from the University of Iceland in 1985. He received his PhD in genetics from University College London in 1995. Dr Gudnason has published widely in peer reviewed journals and written several chapters in books, mainly on genetics and the epidemiology of cardiovascular disease.

Abstract: New Risk Assessment Tools to Identify Individuals with Atherosclerotic Disease

Conventional cardiovascular risk calculators, such as the SCORE Risk or the Framingham Risk Score, or related risk calculators calculate the probability of suffering a cardiovascular event in the next ten years. They are based on conventional cardiovascular risk factors that frequently can be intervened with, such as cholesterol, hypertension and smoking. However, a well-known dilemma is that most individuals have moderate or low risk and often no single abnormal risk factor to put a handle on. Most cardiovascular events occur in these people. These individuals might get a tap on the back and an all clear in the clinic although they go on to have a heart attack or stroke. They do thus have a subclinical atherosclerotic disease. We have developed a risk assessment tool based on the conventional risk factors to address subclinical atherosclerosis. This tool was derived from our population-based study of around 6.000 men and women (35 – 70 years of age) examined from 2006 to 2011 applying carotid ultrasound to all participants. The subclinical atherosclerosis risk assessment tool was externally validated in 3 general practices in people between 55 and 70 years of age using risk stratification and was shown to identify considerable number of individuals with manifest atherosclerosis, but low or moderate conventional cardiovascular risk that are walking around with unidentified subclinical atherosclerotic disease.

International Congress on Quality in Laboratory Medicine

Welcome to the International Congress on Quality in Laboratory Medicine 7-8 February 2019  Helsinki. The inspiring atmosphere of the scientific congress brings medical laboratory and quality management professionals together to exchange ideas and meet colleagues. The 2019 themes are Quality Control Reinvented? and Digital Health. Two inspiring days with world class speakers guarantees an unforgettable experience.

Welcome to Helsinki!