Liposomal-Associated Phospholipase A2 Is More Effective in Predicting Cardiac Risk in Law Enforcement Than Framingham Risk Score and Coronary Artery Calcium Score Calculation

Abstract

Objective To clarify the methods for identifying officers at high risk for cardiac events. Methods This retrospective review included 3330 patient charts. Classic cardiovascular risk factors, coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores, and endothelial inflammatory biomarker levels were compared between civilians and law enforcement officers (LEOs). The Framingham Risk Score (FRS) was compared with risk assessment using inflammatory biomarkers. Results The FRS failed to identify more than 90% of LEOs at high risk of cardiovascular events. Similarly, the use of the CAC score was ineffective. Inflammatory biomarker analysis measuring the lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity was the most reliable method for identifying LEOs at high risk of cardiovascular events. Conclusions The use of the standard FRS and CAC scores is less effective than that of inflammatory biomarkers in identifying LEOs at high risk of cardiovascular events;