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. 2024 Oct 31;22(1):501.
doi: 10.1186/s12916-024-03711-6.

A single risk assessment for the most common diseases of ageing, developed and validated on 10 cohort studies

Affiliations

A single risk assessment for the most common diseases of ageing, developed and validated on 10 cohort studies

Md Hamidul Huque et al. BMC Med. .

Abstract

Background: We aimed to develop risk tools for dementia, stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), and diabetes, for adults aged ≥ 65 years using shared risk factors.

Methods: Data were obtained from 10 population-based cohorts (N = 41,755) with median follow-up time (years) for dementia, stroke, MI, and diabetes of 6.2, 7.0, 6.8, and 7.4, respectively. Disease-free participants at baseline were included, and 22 risk factors (sociodemographic, medical, lifestyle, laboratory biomarkers) were evaluated. Two risk tools (DemNCD and DemNCD-LR based on Fine and Gray sub-distribution and logistic regression [LR], respectively) were developed and validated. Predictive accuracies of these risk tools were assessed using Harrel's C-statistics and area under the curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Model calibration was conducted using Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test along calibration plots.

Results: Both the DemNCD and DemNCD-LR resulted in similar predictive accuracy for each outcome. The overall AUC (95% CI) for dementia, stroke, MI, and diabetes risk tool were 0·68 (0·65, 0·70), 0·58 (0·54, 0·61), 0·65 (0·61, 0·68), and 0·68 (0·64, 0·72), respectively, for males. For females, these figures were 0·65 (0·63, 0·67), 0·55 (0·52, 0·57), 0·65 (0·62, 0·68), and 0·61 (0·57, 0·65).

Conclusions: The DemNCD is the first tool to predict both dementia and multiple cardio-metabolic diseases using comprehensive risk factors and provided similar predictive accuracy to existing risk tools. It has similar predictive accuracy as tools designed for single outcomes in this age-group. DemNCD has the potential to be used in community and clinical settings as it includes self-reported and routinely available clinical measures.

Keywords: Dementia; Diabetes; Heart attack; Primary prevention; Risk factors; Risk prediction; Risk tool; Stroke.

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Conflict of interest statement

JES has received honoraria for scientific advisory, lectures, and clinical research from Pfizer; Roche; Zuellig Pharma; Astra Zeneca; Sanofi; Novo Nordisk; MSD; Eli Lilly; Abbott; Mylan; Boehringer Ingelheim. CSA has received grants from Takeda.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
AUC of the DemNCD-LR tool following logistic regression associated with the diagnosis of dementia, MI, stroke, and diabetes

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