Estimate your 10-year risk of a major cardiovascular event (like heart attack or stroke).
This calculator is based on common risk factors and is for informational purposes only.
Consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice.
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Female
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Your Estimated 10-Year Cardiac Risk:
Understanding Your Cardiac Risk
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Understanding your individual risk of experiencing a major cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke, within the next decade is crucial for proactive health management. This revised cardiac risk calculator aims to provide an estimate based on several key physiological and lifestyle factors.
Key Factors and Their Significance:
Age: The risk of cardiovascular events naturally increases with age due to physiological changes and prolonged exposure to risk factors.
Biological Sex: Historically, men have shown higher rates of cardiovascular disease at younger ages. However, women's risk significantly increases after menopause, often catching up to men's later in life.
Total Cholesterol: High levels of total cholesterol, particularly when LDL ("bad") cholesterol is elevated, contribute to atherosclerosis – the buildup of plaque in arteries.
HDL Cholesterol: High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is often termed "good" cholesterol because it helps remove excess cholesterol from the bloodstream. Higher HDL levels are generally protective.
Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP): This is the top number in a blood pressure reading, indicating the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. Elevated SBP (hypertension) damages blood vessels and increases heart workload.
Blood Pressure Medication: If you are taking medication for high blood pressure, it implies you have diagnosed hypertension, which is itself a significant risk factor, even if your blood pressure is currently managed.
Smoking: Smoking is one of the most potent modifiable risk factors for CVD. It damages blood vessel linings, increases blood pressure, reduces oxygen in the blood, and makes blood more likely to clot.
How the Risk is Estimated (Simplified Explanation):
This calculator uses a simplified scoring system inspired by established risk prediction models (like the Framingham Risk Score or ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations). Each input contributes points or modifies a baseline risk. These points are then used to estimate a percentage probability of experiencing a major cardiovascular event within 10 years.
The exact algorithms can be complex, involving factors like interaction terms, non-linear relationships, and calibration for specific populations. For the purpose of this calculator, a common approach involves assigning points based on age, sex, cholesterol levels (ratio of Total Cholesterol to HDL), systolic blood pressure (adjusted for medication use), and smoking status. These points are then converted into a 10-year risk percentage.
For instance, older age, higher total cholesterol, lower HDL, higher systolic blood pressure, and smoking typically lead to a higher point score, translating to a greater estimated risk. Being treated for hypertension also adds to the risk score.
Interpreting Your Results:
The result is presented as a percentage, representing your estimated likelihood of experiencing a heart attack or stroke in the next 10 years.
Low Risk: Typically considered less than 10%.
Intermediate Risk: Generally between 10% and 20%. Lifestyle changes and potentially medication might be considered.
High Risk: Usually 20% or higher. Aggressive management of risk factors, including medication, is often recommended.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimation only. It does not replace a professional medical evaluation. Factors not included in this calculator (e.g., family history, diabetes, obesity, physical activity levels, diet, stress) also significantly impact cardiac risk. Always consult your doctor for a comprehensive risk assessment and personalized prevention plan.
function calculateCardiacRisk() {
var age = parseFloat(document.getElementById("age").value);
var gender = document.getElementById("gender").value;
var cholesterol = parseFloat(document.getElementById("cholesterol").value);
var hdl = parseFloat(document.getElementById("hdl").value);
var sbp = parseFloat(document.getElementById("sbp").value);
var treated = document.getElementById("treated").value;
var smoker = document.getElementById("smoker").value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
var resultSpan = resultDiv.querySelector("span");
// — Input Validation —
if (isNaN(age) || age 120) {
alert("Please enter a valid age.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(cholesterol) || cholesterol <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Total Cholesterol level.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(hdl) || hdl <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid HDL Cholesterol level.");
return;
}
if (cholesterol <= hdl) {
alert("Total Cholesterol must be greater than HDL Cholesterol.");
return;
}
if (isNaN(sbp) || sbp 300) {
alert("Please enter a valid Systolic Blood Pressure.");
return;
}
// — Simplified Risk Scoring (Example – NOT a clinically validated model) —
// This is a conceptual simplification for demonstration. Real-world calculators use
// complex logistic regression models derived from large cohort studies.
var riskScore = 0;
var baseAgePoints = 0;
var sexMultiplier = 1; // Default for male
// Age points (simplified)
if (gender === "male") {
if (age >= 30 && age = 35 && age = 40 && age = 45 && age = 50 && age = 55 && age = 60 && age = 65 && age = 70 && age = 75 && age = 80) baseAgePoints = 14;
} else { // Female
sexMultiplier = 0.8; // Lower risk baseline for women
if (age >= 30 && age = 35 && age = 40 && age = 45 && age = 50 && age = 55 && age = 60 && age = 65 && age = 70 && age = 75 && age = 80) baseAgePoints = 11;
}
// Cholesterol Ratio Points (Total Cholesterol / HDL)
var cholRatio = cholesterol / hdl;
var cholRatioPoints = 0;
if (cholRatio >= 5.0) cholRatioPoints = 4;
else if (cholRatio >= 4.0 && cholRatio = 3.0 && cholRatio < 4.0) cholRatioPoints = 1;
else if (cholRatio = 160) sbpPoints = 3;
else if (sbp >= 140 && sbp = 130 && sbp < 140) sbpPoints = 0; // Between 130-139, baseline for this simplified model
else if (sbp < 130) sbpPoints = -1; // Hypothetical protective effect for very low SBP
// Adjust SBP points if on medication
if (treated === "yes") {
sbpPoints += 1; // Add a point if treated for hypertension
}
// Smoking Points
var smokingPoints = 0;
if (smoker === "yes") {
smokingPoints = 2;
}
// Total Score Calculation (Simplified Linear Combination)
riskScore = baseAgePoints + cholRatioPoints + sbpPoints + smokingPoints;
riskScore *= sexMultiplier; // Apply sex multiplier
// Convert Score to 10-Year Risk Percentage (Highly simplified, using common thresholds)
// This conversion is a gross simplification. Real models use logistic regression.
var riskPercentage;
if (riskScore = 25) riskPercentage = 30; // High
else {
// Interpolation for intermediate values (conceptual)
// This is a placeholder for actual logistic function if a specific model was implemented.
// For demonstration, we map scores to rough percentage ranges.
if (gender === "male") {
if (riskScore < 0) riskPercentage = 2;
else if (riskScore < 5) riskPercentage = 5;
else if (riskScore < 10) riskPercentage = 8;
else if (riskScore < 15) riskPercentage = 12;
else if (riskScore < 20) riskPercentage = 17;
else if (riskScore < 25) riskPercentage = 23;
else riskPercentage = 30; // Cap at high end
} else { // Female
if (riskScore < -5) riskPercentage = 1;
else if (riskScore < 0) riskPercentage = 3;
else if (riskScore < 5) riskPercentage = 6;
else if (riskScore < 10) riskPercentage = 10;
else if (riskScore < 15) riskPercentage = 15;
else if (riskScore < 20) riskPercentage = 20;
else riskPercentage = 25; // Cap at high end for female
}
}
// Ensure percentage is within reasonable bounds
riskPercentage = Math.max(1, Math.min(riskPercentage, 30)); // Clamp between 1% and 30%
resultSpan.textContent = riskPercentage.toFixed(1) + "%";
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
}