Cardiovascular Risk Assessed by Reynolds Risk Score in Relation to Waist Circumference in Apparently Healthy Middle-Aged Population in Montenegro

SUMMARY – Reynolds Risk Score (RRS) is regarded as a good screening tool for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Since CVD is the leading cause of death in Montenegro, we aimed to assess the risk of CVD as assessed by RRS and to examine its association with cardiometabolic parameters in apparently healthy middle-aged population. In addition, we aimed to test whether obesity had an independent influence on RRS. A total of 132 participants (mean age 56.2±6.73 years, 69% females) were included. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP) and biochemical parameters (fasting glucose, insulin, lipid parameters, creatinine and high sensitivity C-reactive protein) were determined. Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were calculated. Compared with females, a significantly higher number of males were in the high RRS subgroup (χ(2)=45.9, p<0.001). Furthermore, significantly higher fasting glucose (p=0.030), insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides (p<0.001 all), anthropometric parameters (e.g., BMI and WC; p=0.004 and p<0.001, respectively), and creatinine, but lower eGFR and HDL-c (p<0.001 both) were recorded in the high-risk subgroup compared with low and medium risk subgroups. In all participants, in addition to LDL-c, diastolic BP and creatinine, WC was independently positively associated with RRS (β=0.194, p=0.006; β=0.286, p=0.001; β=0.267, p=0.001; and β=0.305, p=0.019, respectively), and 40% of variation in RRS could be explained with this model. In conclusion, middle-aged population with higher WC should be screened for RRS in order to estimate CVD risk.