10-Year Heart Disease Risk Calculator
Estimate your 10-year cardiovascular disease risk using the published Framingham General CVD model.
How this estimate is derived
- Model:
- Framingham General Cardiovascular Risk Score
- Primary reference:
- D'Agostino RB Sr et al., Circulation 2008;117(6):743-753
- Implementation last reviewed:
- 2026-08-29
- Purpose:
- Educational risk estimation only; not a clinical diagnosis.
How this is calculated
This calculator uses the Framingham General Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score, a published Cox proportional-hazards model derived from the Framingham Heart Study. It combines your age, sex, total and HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure (and whether it's treated), smoking status, and diabetes status into a 10-year risk percentage, then compares it against an average person of your age and sex.
Framingham is one of several validated cardiovascular risk models — QRISK, developed and widely used in the UK, is calibrated on a more contemporary and ethnically diverse population and includes additional inputs like ethnicity, family history, and chronic kidney disease that Framingham does not. Framingham, based on a largely white American cohort from the mid-20th century onward, can over- or under-estimate risk for populations that differ significantly from its original study sample — both models are useful, but neither is universally superior, and the right choice often depends on which population your own background is closer to. For related health context, see the Biological Age calculator and the BMI & Body Weight calculator.
Frequently asked questions
- What model does this use?
- The Framingham General Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score (D'Agostino et al., Circulation 2008), a published and widely validated Cox proportional-hazards model built from the Framingham Heart Study cohort.
- Is this a diagnosis?
- No. This is a population-level statistical estimate for general interest and education. It does not account for family history, other lab values, or medications beyond blood pressure treatment. Discuss your actual risk with a clinician.
- What age range does this apply to?
- The model was validated for adults aged 30-79. Outside that range the estimate isn't meaningful, so the calculator rejects it.
- Why is risk capped at 30%?
- The model's empirical validation thins out at very high combined risk. Consistent with how the related ATP III point tables report their top band, this calculator caps the displayed figure at 30%.
- What inputs have the biggest impact on risk?
- Age is the single largest driver in the Framingham model, since cardiovascular risk rises steeply with age regardless of other factors. Smoking status, systolic blood pressure, and total-to-HDL cholesterol ratio also carry substantial weight — smoking in particular can add a large risk increment on its own.
- What is a high vs low 10-year risk?
- As a general guide: below 10% is considered low risk, 10–20% is intermediate, and above 20% is considered high 10-year risk — though clinical guidelines and treatment thresholds vary, and this figure should be discussed with a healthcare provider rather than acted on alone.
- How can I reduce my score?
- Quitting smoking, controlling blood pressure (through medication and/or lifestyle), and improving cholesterol levels through diet, exercise, or medication are the modifiable factors this model captures. Age and sex cannot be changed, but addressing the modifiable factors can meaningfully lower the calculated 10-year risk.