Assess your potential risk of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) based on key physiological and lifestyle factors.
Your CAD Risk Score: N/A
Understanding the CAD Risk Calculator
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a condition where the major blood vessels that supply your heart, the coronary arteries, become damaged or diseased. This damage is most often caused by the buildup of fatty plaques, a process called atherosclerosis. This calculator provides a simplified risk assessment based on several well-established risk factors for CAD. It is crucial to understand that this tool is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for accurate diagnosis and personalized risk management strategies.
How the Calculator Works (Simplified Logic)
This calculator uses a point-based system, inspired by methodologies like the Framingham Risk Score, to estimate an individual's 10-year risk of developing CAD. Each input factor is assigned points based on age, gender (though simplified here by not asking for gender separately to keep it concise), cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and lifestyle choices (smoking and diabetes).
The calculation involves:
Age: Older age is associated with higher risk. Points are assigned based on age ranges.
Total Cholesterol: Higher total cholesterol levels generally increase risk.
HDL Cholesterol: "Good" cholesterol (HDL) is protective. Lower HDL levels are associated with higher risk. The ratio of Total Cholesterol to HDL is often considered.
Systolic Blood Pressure: Elevated systolic blood pressure (the top number) increases the risk of heart disease. If a person is on blood pressure medication, this is often factored in as a higher risk category, but for simplicity, we use the current reading.
Smoking Status: Smoking is a major modifiable risk factor for CAD.
The points accumulated from each factor are summed up. This total point score is then used to estimate the 10-year risk percentage. Higher point totals indicate a greater likelihood of experiencing a CAD event within the next decade.
Key Risk Factors Explained:
Age: Risk naturally increases as we age due to cumulative exposure to other risk factors and natural changes in the cardiovascular system.
Cholesterol: High LDL ("bad") cholesterol contributes to plaque buildup, while high HDL ("good") cholesterol helps remove it. The ratio is important.
Blood Pressure: High blood pressure forces the heart to work harder and can damage artery walls, making them more susceptible to plaque buildup.
Diabetes: High blood sugar levels associated with diabetes can damage blood vessels and nerves that control the heart over time.
Smoking: Chemicals in tobacco smoke damage the heart and blood vessels, reduce the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood, and raise blood pressure.
Disclaimer:
This calculator is a simplified tool for educational purposes. It does not account for all possible risk factors (e.g., family history, obesity, physical activity, diet, other medical conditions). For a comprehensive assessment of your cardiovascular risk, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
function calculateCADRisk() {
var age = parseFloat(document.getElementById("age").value);
var totalCholesterol = parseFloat(document.getElementById("totalCholesterol").value);
var hdlCholesterol = parseFloat(document.getElementById("hdlCholesterol").value);
var systolicBloodPressure = parseFloat(document.getElementById("systolicBloodPressure").value);
var isDiabetic = parseInt(document.getElementById("isDiabetic").value);
var isSmoker = parseInt(document.getElementById("isSmoker").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
// — Input Validation —
if (isNaN(age) || age <= 0 ||
isNaN(totalCholesterol) || totalCholesterol <= 0 ||
isNaN(hdlCholesterol) || hdlCholesterol <= 0 ||
isNaN(systolicBloodPressure) || systolicBloodPressure = 20 && age = 40 && age = 50 && age = 60 && age = 70) totalPoints += 12;
// Total Cholesterol Points (Example ranges – simplified)
if (totalCholesterol = 160 && totalCholesterol = 200 && totalCholesterol = 240 && totalCholesterol = 280) totalPoints += 11;
// HDL Cholesterol Points (Lower HDL = higher risk – simplified)
if (hdlCholesterol >= 60) totalPoints += 0;
else if (hdlCholesterol >= 50 && hdlCholesterol = 40 && hdlCholesterol < 50) totalPoints += 3;
else if (hdlCholesterol < 40) totalPoints += 5;
// Systolic Blood Pressure Points (Example ranges – simplified)
// Note: In real scores, being on medication adds points.
if (systolicBloodPressure = 120 && systolicBloodPressure = 130 && systolicBloodPressure = 140 && systolicBloodPressure = 160) totalPoints += 4;
// Diabetes Factor
if (isDiabetic === 1) totalPoints += 5;
// Smoking Factor
if (isSmoker === 1) totalPoints += 4;
// — Translate Points to Approximate 10-Year Risk Percentage —
// This is a very rough approximation. Real scores use look-up tables or complex formulas.
var riskPercentage = 0;
if (totalPoints = 10 && totalPoints = 13 && totalPoints = 16 && totalPoints = 19 && totalPoints = 22 && totalPoints = 25 && totalPoints = 28 && totalPoints = 31 && totalPoints = 34 && totalPoints = 37 && totalPoints = 40 && totalPoints = 43 && totalPoints = 46 && totalPoints = 49 && totalPoints <= 51) riskPercentage = 50;
else riskPercentage = 55; // For very high point totals
// Display the result
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Your Estimated 10-Year CAD Risk: " + riskPercentage + "%";
}