The risk assessment tool below uses information from the Framingham Heart Study to predict a person’s chance of having a heart attack in the next 10 years. This tool is designed for adults aged 20 and older who do not have heart disease or diabetes. To find your risk score, enter your information in the calculator below
Your risk category
These categories are based on guidelines established by the National Cholesterol Education Program.
- Highest risk: A risk score of more than 20%, or a history of heart disease or diabetes.
- High risk: A risk score from 10 to 20% and two or more risk factors.
- Moderate risk: A risk score below 10% and two or more risk factors.
- Low risk: One or no risk factors.
Determining 10-year (short term) risk for developing CHD is carried out using Framingham risk scoring. The risk factors included in the Framingham calculation are age, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, treatment for hypertension, and cigarette smoking. Because of a larger database, Framingham estimates are more robust for total cholesterol than for LDL cholesterol. Note, however, that LDL cholesterol remains the primary target of therapy. The Framingham risk score gives estimates for “hard CHD” which includes myocardial infarction and coronary death [return to top]
Total cholesterol - Total cholesterol is the sum of all the cholesterol in your blood. The higher your total cholesterol, the greater your risk for heart disease. Here are the total values that matter to you:
- Less than 200 mg/dL 'Desirable' level that puts you at lower risk for heart disease. A cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL or greater increases your risk.
- 200 to 239 mg/dL 'Borderline-high.'
- 240 mg/dL and above 'High' blood cholesterol. A person with this level has more than twice the risk of heart disease compared to someone whose cholesterol is below 200 mg/dL. [return to top]
HDL cholesterol - High density lipoproteins (HDL) is the 'good' cholesterol. HDL carry cholesterol in the blood from other parts of the body back to the liver, which leads to its removal from the body. So HDL help keep cholesterol from building up in the walls of the arteries. Here are the HDL-Cholesterol Levels that matter to you:
- Less than 40 mg/dL A major risk factor for heart disease
- 40 to 59 mg/dL The higher your HDL, the better
- 60 mg/dL and above An HDL of 60 mg/dL and above is considered protective against heart disease. [return to top]
Smoker - Select “yes” if you have smoked any cigarettes in the past month. [return to top]
Systolic blood pressure - Systolic blood pressure is the first number of your blood pressure reading. For example, if your reading is 120/80 (120 over 80), your systolic blood pressure is 120. [return to top]
Used with permission from the National Cholesterol Education Program, Third Report of the Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III), National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH).
