CVD Risk Calculator (10-Year)

ASCVD stands for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease. It refers to conditions caused by plaque buildup in the artery walls, including coronary heart disease, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. ASCVD is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, which is why early risk estimation is important for prevention.

The Pooled Cohort Equations (PCE) were developed in 2013 by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). They combine data from multiple large cohort studies to estimate a patient's 10-year risk of a first ASCVD event, such as a heart attack or stroke, accounting for age, sex, race, cholesterol, blood pressure, diabetes, and smoking.

This calculator is designed for adults aged 20–79 who have not previously been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. It is a screening tool to guide clinical conversations — not a substitute for professional medical evaluation. Patients with existing ASCVD or very high-risk conditions may need different risk frameworks.

A 10-year ASCVD risk below 5% is considered low risk, 5–7.4% is borderline risk, 7.5–19.9% is intermediate risk, and 20% or higher is high risk. These categories are used by clinicians to guide decisions about lifestyle changes, statin therapy, and other preventive interventions.

If you are currently on antihypertensive medication, the calculator uses a separate coefficient for your systolic blood pressure, because treated blood pressure carries a different cardiovascular risk profile than untreated hypertension at the same level. Make sure to select 'Yes' for blood pressure treatment if you are currently taking medication for it.

Yes. Current smoking is one of the strongest modifiable risk factors in the PCE model. Smokers can see substantially higher 10-year risk estimates compared to non-smokers with otherwise identical profiles. Quitting smoking can significantly reduce projected ASCVD risk over time.

The original Pooled Cohort Equations were calibrated using data from White and African American populations. The model applies different equation coefficients for African American men and women versus White (or other) individuals, because the underlying cohort data showed different risk factor relationships across these groups. The ACC/AHA acknowledge that these equations may be less validated for other racial and ethnic groups.

No. This tool provides an educational estimate based on the published PCE 2013 model. Your clinician will consider additional factors — family history, lifestyle, imaging results, and other biomarkers — before making treatment recommendations. Always discuss your results with a qualified healthcare professional.