Cardiovascular Disease Risk in a Military Personel (Soldiers vs Civilians) Assessed Using the Pol-SCORE and SCORE2 Models

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death in Europe. Despite medical advancements, modifiable risk factors - such as obesity, smoking, and physical inactivity - continue to rise, especially in high-demand professional groups like military personnel. The updated SCORE2 model offers broader assessment capabilities compared to the traditional Pol-SCORE system used in Poland. This study aimed to assess and compare cardiovascular risk using both models and evaluate self-awareness regarding risk factors among uniformed and civilian military employees. Methods: The study included military personnel and civilian defense employees who completed a health-related questionnaire and underwent clinical evaluation, including blood pressure measurement and lipid profiling. Cardiovascular risk was assessed using both Pol-SCORE (fatal events only) and SCORE2 (fatal and non-fatal events). Statistical analysis was conducted using standard parametric and nonparametric methods. Results: SCORE2 classified significantly more individuals into high or very high cardiovascular risk categories than Pol-SCORE. Differences were especially pronounced among women and civilians. Elevated blood pressure, overweight, obesity, tobacco use, and stress were commonly observed. Despite a high level of awareness about prevention, regular participation in screening was low, and many respondents underestimated their health risk - highlighting the phenomenon of "silent risk." Conclusions: SCORE2 proves to be a more sensitive and comprehensive tool for cardiovascular risk evaluation. The findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted prevention strategies and health education, especially in high-risk occupational groups such as military personnel.