ASCVD Risk Calculator
Estimate 10-year heart attack and stroke risk using ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations. Guides who benefits from statin therapy.
HEALTHEstimate your 10-year risk of a heart attack or stroke using the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations (PCE). Identifies who benefits most from statin therapy and aggressive cardiovascular risk-factor management.
The PCE uses age, sex, race, total and HDL cholesterol, systolic BP, BP treatment, diabetes, and smoking. Categories per ACC/AHA: under 5% low, 5-7.4% borderline (consider statin with risk enhancers), 7.5-19.9% intermediate (statin generally recommended), 20%+ high. Adding a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score refines borderline and intermediate decisions.
ASCVD Risk Calculator (10-Year Cardiovascular Disease Risk)
Estimate your 10-year risk of a heart attack or stroke using the ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations. Identifies who benefits most from statin therapy and aggressive risk-factor management.
Treatment Considerations
Statin therapy generally recommended. Target LDL reduction of 30-49%. Consider coronary artery calcium (CAC) score to refine the decision.
How the ASCVD Risk Calculator Works
The Pooled Cohort Equations (PCE) were published by the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association in 2013. They estimate your 10-year risk of a "hard" atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease event - non-fatal heart attack, fatal coronary heart disease death, or stroke. The equations use age, sex, race, total and HDL cholesterol, systolic BP, BP treatment status, diabetes, and smoking.
The risk thresholds align with current statin recommendations: under 5% is low risk (lifestyle only), 5-7.4% is borderline (consider statin if risk enhancers), 7.5-19.9% is intermediate (statin generally recommended), 20%+ is high risk (high-intensity statin). A 50-year-old man with 220 total cholesterol, 40 HDL, 140 SBP, on BP meds, non-smoker, no diabetes lands around 9% - intermediate risk.
The PCE is most validated in people aged 40-79 of non-Hispanic white and African American descent. For other ethnicities (Hispanic, Asian, etc.) it tends to overestimate risk. Adding a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score can substantially refine borderline and intermediate-risk decisions: CAC of 0 lowers true risk; CAC over 100 raises it sharply.
Educational tool only. Not a substitute for clinical evaluation. Always discuss your cardiovascular risk and treatment options with your physician.