Abstract TH956: Grim Age Acceleration Does Not Improve Risk Prediction of the PREVENT (Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events) Base Equation

B Bedirhan Boztepe (Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States) H Hongyan Ning (NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, Chicago, Illinois, United States) A Alexander Zheutlin (Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States) A Ankeet Bhatt (Kaiser Permanente Northern Cal, Pleasanton, California, United States) S Sejong Bae (Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States) S Sadiya Khan (Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States) J John Wilkins (Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States)

Abstract

Introduction: The PREVENT (Predicting Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Events) equations estimate 10-year absolute risks for atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD), heart failure (HF), and CVD (ASCVD + HF). Of PREVENT inputs, chronological age explains most of the variance in risk estimates. Grim Age acceleration (Grim2AA) is an epigenetic age measure that predicts morbidity and mortality; however, whether it contributes to risk prediction is not known. Hypothesis: Incorporating Grim2AA-adjusted age into PREVENT base equations improves 10-year risk discrimination, calibration, and reclassification. Methods: We analyzed data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a prospective, multicenter U.S. cohort. We included participants free of CVD with available clinical and Grim2AA measures in midlife (year 20 visit). Grim2AA-adjusted age (Grim2AA + chronological age) replaced chronological age in PREVENT-CVD, PREVENT-ASCVD, and PREVENT-HF base models. Model performance was assessed using C-statistics and calibration, comparing Grim2AA-adjusted age–based vs. original models. We assessed reclassification using the Partial Likelihood Ratio Test. Results: Among the 2,432 participants included, 42.3% were men and 43.4% were Black, with a mean chronological age of 45.2 ± 3.6 years and a mean Grim2AA of 0.13 ± 5.14 years. During a median follow-up of 17.8 (interquartile range 16.9–18.0) years, 147 ASCVD, 173 CVD, and 42 HF events occurred. In univariate models, predicted risk with original and Grim2AA-adjusted PREVENT measures were each significantly associated with CVD outcomes. Each 1-SD Grim2AA-adjusted PREVENT was associated with ASCVD (1.53 [1.43–1.64]), CVD (1.50 [1.42–1.58]), and HF (1.34 [1.26–1.43]) events. There was no difference in overall predictive utility when Grim2AA-adjusted age was integrated in place of chronological age (C-statistic 0.76 [0.72–0.83] vs 0.76 [0.71–0.82]; Δ<0.01; Figure 1) for PREVENT-CVD. Findings were similar for PREVENT-ASCVD and PREVENT-HF models, with no improvement in calibration or reclassification. Results were similar among the subset of participants with Grim2AA ≥ 2 years. Conclusions: Grim2AA does not improve CVD risk estimation of the PREVENT equations. Further research is needed to determine whether other biological age measures can enhance CVD risk assessment.

Article Details

Journal Circulation
Volume / Issue Vol. 153, Issue Suppl_1
Published March 24, 2026
ISSN 0009-7322
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Journal Info

Circulation

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN: 0009-7322 Health Sciences

Authors (7)

B

Bedirhan Boztepe

Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States

H

Hongyan Ning

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, Chicago, Illinois, United States

A

Alexander Zheutlin

Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States

A

Ankeet Bhatt

Kaiser Permanente Northern Cal, Pleasanton, California, United States

S

Sejong Bae

Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States

S

Sadiya Khan

Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States

J

John Wilkins

Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States