Your estimated 10-year ASCVD risk will appear here.
Understanding Your Cardiovascular Risk and Statin Therapy
This calculator provides an estimation of your 10-year risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke, often referred to as Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD). It utilizes key health metrics to predict this risk, helping you and your healthcare provider make informed decisions about preventative measures, including the potential use of statin medications.
How the Calculator Works (ASCVD Risk Estimation)
The calculator is based on a simplified representation of the Pooled Cohort Equations, a widely used model for estimating ASCVD risk. These equations consider several important risk factors:
Age: Risk generally increases with age.
Total Cholesterol: Higher levels are associated with increased risk.
HDL Cholesterol: Lower levels ("good" cholesterol) are associated with increased risk.
Treatment for Hypertension: Being treated for high blood pressure suggests underlying cardiovascular concerns and increases estimated risk.
Diabetes: Diabetes is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Smoking Status: Current smoking dramatically increases risk.
Sex: Men typically have a higher risk than pre-menopausal women.
The calculator computes a numerical score based on these inputs, which is then converted into a percentage representing your likelihood of a cardiovascular event within the next 10 years.
What is Statin Therapy?
Statins are a class of drugs that help lower cholesterol levels in the blood. They work by blocking an enzyme that your liver needs to produce cholesterol. By reducing LDL ("bad") cholesterol, statins can help slow down the buildup of plaque in your arteries, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Interpreting the Results
The estimated 10-year ASCVD risk percentage is a crucial piece of information. Generally:
Low Risk (<7.5%): Lifestyle modifications are often sufficient.
Borderline Risk (7.5% – 19.9%): Statins may be considered, especially if other risk factors are present. A detailed discussion with your doctor is recommended.
Intermediate Risk (20% – 49.9%): Statins are often recommended, along with lifestyle changes.
High Risk (≥50%): Aggressive treatment, including statins and management of all risk factors, is typically advised.
The fact that you have or have not taken a statin before is also factored in, as previous use might indicate a known higher risk profile or a past recommendation. This calculator provides an estimate and is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice.
Disclaimer
This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It is essential to consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health or treatment. The results are estimations based on a risk assessment model and may not perfectly reflect your individual risk.
function calculateStatinBenefit() {
var age = parseFloat(document.getElementById("age").value);
var totalCholesterol = parseFloat(document.getElementById("cholesterol").value);
var hdlCholesterol = parseFloat(document.getElementById("hdlCholesterol").value);
var sbp = parseFloat(document.getElementById("sbp").value);
var treatmentForHypertension = parseFloat(document.getElementById("treatmentForHypertension").value);
var diabetes = parseFloat(document.getElementById("diabetes").value);
var smoking = parseFloat(document.getElementById("smoking").value);
var isMale = parseFloat(document.getElementById("isMale").value);
var statinEver = parseFloat(document.getElementById("statinEver").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
// Clear previous results and error messages
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Your estimated 10-year ASCVD risk will appear here.";
resultDiv.style.color = "#004a99"; // Reset to default color
// Input validation
if (isNaN(age) || age 120 ||
isNaN(totalCholesterol) || totalCholesterol <= 0 ||
isNaN(hdlCholesterol) || hdlCholesterol <= 0 ||
isNaN(sbp) || sbp = 40 && age = 45 && age = 50 && age = 55 && age = 60 && age = 65 && age = 70 && age = 75 && age = 80) riskScore += 9;
// Total Cholesterol component (simplified ranges)
if (totalCholesterol >= 240) riskScore += 2;
else if (totalCholesterol >= 220) riskScore += 1;
// HDL Cholesterol component (simplified ranges)
if (isMale === 1) { // Male ranges
if (hdlCholesterol = 40 && hdlCholesterol < 50) riskScore += 1;
} else { // Female ranges
if (hdlCholesterol = 50 && hdlCholesterol = 160) riskScore += 3;
else if (sbp >= 140) riskScore += 2;
else if (sbp >= 130) riskScore += 1;
// Treatment for Hypertension
if (treatmentForHypertension === 1) riskScore += 1;
// Diabetes
if (diabetes === 1) riskScore += 2;
// Smoking
if (smoking === 1) riskScore += 2;
// Statin Ever (can be a proxy for higher risk or response to therapy)
// In many risk models, statin use itself doesn't directly alter the *current* risk calculation but influences treatment decisions.
// For this simplified model, we'll slightly adjust based on past use, assuming it might correlate with higher baseline risk.
if (statinEver === 1) riskScore += 1; // A slight adjustment
// Convert score to percentage (highly generalized and non-linear conversion)
// Real ASCVD calculators use lookup tables or specific formulas based on sex.
var estimatedRiskPercentage = 0;
if (isMale === 1) { // Male specific risk estimation (simplified mapping)
if (riskScore <= 1) estimatedRiskPercentage = 1;
else if (riskScore === 2) estimatedRiskPercentage = 2;
else if (riskScore === 3) estimatedRiskPercentage = 3;
else if (riskScore === 4) estimatedRiskPercentage = 4;
else if (riskScore === 5) estimatedRiskPercentage = 5;
else if (riskScore === 6) estimatedRiskPercentage = 7;
else if (riskScore === 7) estimatedRiskPercentage = 9;
else if (riskScore === 8) estimatedRiskPercentage = 12;
else if (riskScore === 9) estimatedRiskPercentage = 15;
else if (riskScore === 10) estimatedRiskPercentage = 18;
else if (riskScore === 11) estimatedRiskPercentage = 22;
else if (riskScore === 12) estimatedRiskPercentage = 26;
else if (riskScore === 13) estimatedRiskPercentage = 30;
else if (riskScore === 14) estimatedRiskPercentage = 35;
else if (riskScore === 15) estimatedRiskPercentage = 40;
else estimatedRiskPercentage = 45; // For scores 16+
} else { // Female specific risk estimation (simplified mapping)
if (riskScore <= 1) estimatedRiskPercentage = 0.5;
else if (riskScore === 2) estimatedRiskPercentage = 1;
else if (riskScore === 3) estimatedRiskPercentage = 1.5;
else if (riskScore === 4) estimatedRiskPercentage = 2;
else if (riskScore === 5) estimatedRiskPercentage = 3;
else if (riskScore === 6) estimatedRiskPercentage = 4;
else if (riskScore === 7) estimatedRiskPercentage = 5;
else if (riskScore === 8) estimatedRiskPercentage = 6;
else if (riskScore === 9) estimatedRiskPercentage = 8;
else if (riskScore === 10) estimatedRiskPercentage = 10;
else if (riskScore === 11) estimatedRiskPercentage = 12;
else if (riskScore === 12) estimatedRiskPercentage = 15;
else if (riskScore === 13) estimatedRiskPercentage = 18;
else if (riskScore === 14) estimatedRiskPercentage = 22;
else if (riskScore === 15) estimatedRiskPercentage = 26;
else estimatedRiskPercentage = 30; // For scores 16+
}
// Ensure percentage is not negative or excessively high
estimatedRiskPercentage = Math.max(0, Math.min(100, estimatedRiskPercentage));
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Your estimated 10-year ASCVD Risk: " + estimatedRiskPercentage.toFixed(1) + "%";
resultDiv.style.color = "#28a745"; // Success green for result
// Informative text based on risk level (optional, can be added for better user experience)
var riskLevelMessage = "";
if (estimatedRiskPercentage = 7.5 && estimatedRiskPercentage < 20) {
riskLevelMessage = " This is considered borderline to intermediate risk. Discuss statin therapy and lifestyle changes with your doctor.";
} else {
riskLevelMessage = " This indicates a higher risk. Statin therapy is often recommended in addition to lifestyle changes. Please consult your healthcare provider.";
}
resultDiv.innerHTML += "" + riskLevelMessage + "";
}