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URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/heart-disease-risk-assessment/

Heart Disease Risk Assessment

What is a heart disease risk assessment?

Heart disease is a general term that refers to several types of heart conditions. The most common type is coronary artery disease, which can lead to a heart attack. Other types include stroke and heart failure. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States.

A heart disease risk assessment, also known as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment, is a type of screening tool that measures your risk of heart disease or CVD. Heart disease is a type of CVD, which is a group of diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

A heart disease risk assessment includes a series of questions about certain risk factors, including age, family history, and lifestyle habits such as diet and exercise. It then calculates your risk of developing heart disease in the future. Even if you feel healthy now, the assessment can show if you need to take steps to prevent or reduce your chances of developing heart disease later.

Other names: cardiovascular disease assessment, CVD risk factors assessment, heart disease risk calculator, ASCVD risk calculator

What is it used for?

A heart disease risk assessment is used to check how likely it is that someone will develop heart disease in the next 10 years.

Why do I need a heart disease risk assessment?

The assessment can be helpful for most adults aged 40 or older. If you are younger than 40, you may need an assessment if you have a family history of heart disease or certain CVD risk factors.

What happens during a heart disease risk assessment?

There are different types of heart disease risk assessment. They each include general questions about your health and possible risk factors for heart disease. The most common heart disease risk assessments are known as:

  • ACC/AHA Cardiovascular Risk Calculator
  • ASCVD Risk Calculator. ASCVD stands for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This is a condition where plaque (fatty deposits) build up in the walls of the arteries. It can block blood flow and may lead to heart attack or stroke.
  • Reynolds Risk Score
  • Framingham General CVD Risk Profile

The test can be done by yourself online or by a health care provider. Your assessment may include questions about some or all of the following:

Will I need to do anything to prepare for the test?

You don't need any special preparations for a heart disease risk assessment.

Are there any risks to the test?

There is no risk in taking a questionnaire.

What do the results mean?

Heart disease risk assessment results are calculated based on data from clinical studies on heart disease. Your answers will be compared with patient data from these studies. Your results will be given as a percentage. A lower percentage means you have less risk of developing heart disease within the next 10 years. A higher percentage means you have a greater risk. If your percentage is high, your doctor may recommend steps to lower your risk.

Some risk factors, such as age and family history, can't be controlled. But you can take steps to lower your risk for factors you can control. These may include eating a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and quitting smoking. These steps can benefit all adults. If you are at a high risk of heart disease, your provider may also recommend medicines such as:

  • Statins, which lower cholesterol
  • Blood pressure medicines, also called antihypertensives
  • Blood thinners, such as aspirin, which can help prevent heart attacks and strokes. Many people with coronary artery disease (CAD) are treated with aspirin. But aspirin therapy has some risks and is only recommended for people with certain risk factors for heart disease.

If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.

Is there anything else I need to know about a heart disease risk assessment?

Depending on the results of your assessment, your provider may order additional tests including:

References

  1. American College of Cardiology [Internet]. Washington D.C.: American College of Cardiology Foundation; c2021. ASCVD Risk Estimator Plus; [cited 2021 Jul 5]; [about 4 screens]. Available from: https://tools.acc.org/ascvd-risk-estimator-plus/#!/calculate/estimate
  2. American College of Cardiology [Internet]. Washington D.C.: American College of Cardiology Foundation; c2021. New Risk Assessment Tool May Better Predict Dynamic Risk of Heart Disease; 2016 Nov 4 [cited 2021 Jul 5]; [about 3 screens]. Available from: https://www.acc.org/about-acc/press-releases/2016/11/04/11/11/new-risk-assessment-tool-may-better-predict-dynamic-risk-of-heart-disease
  3. American Heart Association [Internet]. Dallas (TX): American Heart Association Inc.; c2021. New guidelines help doctors assess severity of heart valve disease; 2014 Mar 3 [cited 2021 Jul 5]; [about 2 screens]. Available from: https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/05/01/new-guidelines-help-doctors-assess-severity-of-heart-valve-disease
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The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.