The Framingham Cardiovascular Risk Calculator is a tool that aims to estimate the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in adults. These diseases include myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and coronary artery disease.
The tool is based on an equation developed from the Framingham study, a long-term study conducted in the United States to assess risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
It is important to emphasize that the cardiovascular risk calculator is a tool to aid in risk assessment and should not be used alone to make clinical decisions. Cardiovascular risk assessment should be done on an individual basis, taking into account other risk factors, such as family history of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, among others.
In addition, it is important that the evaluation is carried out by a trained health professional, who will be able to correctly interpret the results and advise on the appropriate preventive and therapeutic measures.
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Cardiovascular Risk Calculator
To use the calculator, it is necessary to enter the requested information, such as age, sex, cholesterol and blood pressure values, and if the patient is a smoker or not. Based on this information, the calculator uses the Framingham equation to estimate the cardiovascular risk in 10 years, presenting the result as a percentage.
The calculator above 60 years of age usually presents a value close to 100%, this is normal, it does not mean that you will suffer a stroke in 10 years, just that there are risks of some cardiovascular disease.
Below is a table with average and reference values for total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and systolic blood pressure for adults:
| Indicator | Average value | normal reference value |
|---|---|---|
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | 197 | below 200 |
| HDL cholesterol mg / dl) | 52 | Over 40 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 120 | below 120 |
It is worth remembering that the reference values may vary according to the age, sex and other individual factors of each patient. Therefore, it is important to consult a health professional to evaluate the test results and advise on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Understanding the result of the calculator
The Framingham Cardiovascular Risk Calculator presents the 10-year cardiovascular risk result as a percentage. This percentage represents the probability that the patient will develop a cardiovascular disease, such as a myocardial infarction or stroke, in the next 10 years.
For example, if the calculator displays a 10-year cardiovascular risk result of 5%, this means that there is a 5-in-100 chance of developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years. The higher the percentage, the greater the cardiovascular risk and the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease.
It is important to remember that the percentage displayed by the calculator is an estimate based on known risk factors and the Framingham equation, and does not represent an accurate diagnosis or prediction of cardiovascular risk. Furthermore, the percentage may vary according to age, gender, ethnicity, family history and other risk factors that are not taken into account in the Framingham equation.
