title: Validation of a model to investigate the effects of modifying cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors on the burden of CVD: the rotterdam ischemic heart disease and stroke computer simulation (RISC) model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We developed a Monte Carlo Markov model designed to investigate the effects of modifying cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors on the burden of CVD. Internal, predictive, and external validity of the model have not yet been established.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Rotterdam Ischemic Heart Disease and Stroke Computer Simulation (RISC) model was developed using data covering 5 years of follow-up from the Rotterdam Study. To prove 1) internal and 2) predictive validity, the incidences of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, CVD death, and non-CVD death simulated by the model over a 13-year period were compared with those recorded for 3,478 participants in the Rotterdam Study with at least 13 years of follow-up. 3) External validity was verified using 10 years of follow-up data from the European Prospective Investigation of Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk study of 25,492 participants, for whom CVD and non-CVD mortality was compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At year 5, the observed incidences (with simulated incidences in brackets) of CHD, stroke, and CVD and non-CVD mortality for the 3,478 Rotterdam Study participants were 5.30% (4.68%), 3.60% (3.23%), 4.70% (4.80%), and 7.50% (7.96%), respectively. At year 13, these percentages were 10.60% (10.91%), 9.90% (9.13%), 14.20% (15.12%), and 24.30% (23.42%). After recalibrating the model for the EPIC-Norfolk population, the 10-year observed (simulated) incidences of CVD and non-CVD mortality were 3.70% (4.95%) and 6.50% (6.29%). All observed incidences fell well within the 95% credibility intervals of the simulated incidences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have confirmed the internal, predictive, and external validity of the RISC model. These findings provide a basis for analyzing the effects of modifying cardiovascular disease risk factors on the burden of CVD with the RISC model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, dr Molewaterplein 50, Rotterdam, 3015 GE, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bob J H
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: van Kempen
authors.forename: Bart S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Ferket
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hofman
authors.forename: Ewout W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Steyerberg
authors.forename: Ersen B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Colkesen
authors.forename: S Matthijs
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Boekholdt
authors.forename: Nicholas J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Wareham
authors.forename: Kay-Tee
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Khaw
authors.forename: M G Myriam
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Hunink
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology