Cardiovascular risk profile

What is a cardiovascular risk profile?

A cardiovascular risk profile combines a blood test with your personal health information to estimate your chances of developing cardiovascular disease (eg, angina, heart attack, stroke or peripheral arterial disease) over the following 10 years. It looks at things like your cholesterol, blood pressure and lifestyle to work out a personal risk score.

Why might I need a cardiovascular risk profile?

Your doctor may suggest this test if:

• you're overweight, unfit, or smoke
• you have high cholesterol, diabetes, or an underactive thyroid
• you have a family history of coronary heart disease
• your doctor wants to see how well a treatment, such as a cholesterol-lowering medicine, is working.

What are the benefits of a cardiovascular risk profile?

• You can know your cardiovascular risk
• Understanding your risk early can help you and your doctor manage it more effectively, through lifestyle changes or medication
• Understanding the factors that increase your cardiovascular risk
• Gives the opportunity to make changes to reduce your cardiovascular risk, particularly if you are unfit, smoke, have high cholesterol, diabetes or a family history of heart disease
• Where appropriate, it helps doctors make decisions about lipid-lowering therapy
• A doctor can assess your risk if you have raised concerns about your heart health or other risk factors
• It's quick and straightforward.

Are there different types of cardiovascular risk calculator?

Yes, common risk calculators are:

• QRISK3 - Used extensively in the UK to estimate a 10-year risk of heart attack or stroke for adults aged 25 to 84.
• PREVENT Calculator - Developed by the American Heart Association to measure 10-year and 30-year cardiovascular and heart failure risks for adults aged 30 to 79.
• Framingham Risk Score - A traditional tool used to predict 10-year coronary heart disease risk.

How do I prepare for a cardiovascular risk assessment?

You may be asked to fast for the blood tests that include glucose or cholesterol.

Also, bring the list of medications you may be taking and details of your medical history and family history.

What happens during a cardiovascular risk assessment?

Here's what typically happens:

1. Your doctor or nurse will take blood sample to test for cholesterol and glucose.
2. You'll also be asked about things like your age, family history, smoking status and any existing conditions, since these feed into your overall risk score alongside the blood results.

What happens after a cardiovascular risk assessment?

You can go home straight after your blood test, with no recovery time needed. Your doctor will send you the results once they're ready, and these usually also become part of your personal medical record.

If your results suggest a higher risk of coronary heart disease, your doctor will discuss what you can do to reduce your cardiovascular risk particularly if you are at increased risk. This might include advice on diet and lifestyle, further tests, treatment, a follow-up appointment, or repeating the test after a period of time.