Risk Assessment Using Two Different Diagnostic Tools: Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk Score (SCORE)—Data from a Weight Reduction Intervention Study*

License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Objective: Risk score models and the diagnosis of a metabolic syndrome are useful for cardiovascular (CV) risk pre-diction. The identification of individuals with high CV and metabolic risk is essential to provide appropriate prevention and therapy. The present study aims at clarifying whether these indicators are altered by a weight reduction programme. Additionally, which diagnostic tool has a better predictive value is examined. Method: One hundred and twenty over-weight and obese subjects aged 30- 60 years were included in a 12-week weight reduction programme. The CV risk was assessed by means of German multiple-used risk charts (SCORE) at baseline and at the end of the trial. Further-more, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (three out of five risk factors) was quantified. Results: The initial prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 63.3 % (n = 76) and decreased to 41.7 % (n = 50) by the end of the interven-tion. The SCORE also decreased significantly after twelve weeks (p < 0.001). The percentage of subjects at high risk (SCORE> 5%) was comparatively low (t0: 7.4%, n = 7; t12: 5.3%, n = 5). Conclusion: The weight reduction concept was applicable to improve the CV risk SCORE and decrease the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. The CV 10-year risk calculated using German risk charts (SCORE) probably underestimated the risk of CV diseases in this col