ASCVD 10-Year Risk Calculator
Estimate your 10-year risk of heart disease or stroke based on the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations.
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What is the ASCVD Risk Score?
The ASCVD (Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease) risk score is a clinically validated tool used to estimate the likelihood of an individual experiencing a "hard" cardiovascular event—such as a heart attack or stroke—over the next 10 years. Developed by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA), this calculator is specifically designed for adults aged 40 to 79 who do not already have known heart disease.
How to Interpret Your Results
- Low Risk (<5%): Maintain a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise. High-dose statin therapy is generally not recommended unless other risk factors are present.
- Borderline Risk (5% to 7.5%): Discussion with a healthcare provider is recommended regarding lifestyle changes and potentially starting moderate-intensity statins if "risk enhancers" exist.
- Intermediate Risk (7.5% to 20%): Moderate-to-high intensity statins are often recommended to lower the risk of future events.
- High Risk (>20%): Aggressive management of risk factors, including high-intensity statin therapy, is typically initiated.
Example Calculation
Consider a 60-year-old White male with a total cholesterol of 210 mg/dL, HDL of 45 mg/dL, and a systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg (on treatment). If he is a non-smoker and does not have diabetes, his calculated 10-year risk would be approximately 11.2%. This places him in the Intermediate Risk category, suggesting a clinical discussion about cholesterol-lowering medication is warranted.
Factors That Influence Your Risk
While the calculator uses the primary factors listed above, other "risk enhancers" can influence clinical decisions. These include a family history of premature ASCVD, chronic kidney disease, metabolic syndrome, or elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Reducing your risk involves controlling blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking, and managing blood sugar levels.