Online Calculator Estimates Heart Health Risk for Predicting Potential Cardiovascular Disease
New Online Tool Helps Calculate Heart Age for Better Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment
A groundbreaking online tool, the PREVENT Risk Age Calculator, has been developed by researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. This innovative tool calculates a person's heart age based on various cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, aiming to make CVD risk easier for patients to understand and discuss with their clinicians.
The PREVENT Risk Age Calculator uses the PREVENT risk equations (based on American Heart Association guidance) to estimate a person's 10-year risk of major CVD events. It then expresses that risk as the age of a person with optimal risk factors, also known as the "risk age" or "heart age." The input data for the tool includes routine health measures such as chronological age, sex, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, smoking status, diabetes status, and use of relevant medications.
The output of the tool is a "heart age" (PREVENT age) which indicates whether a person's cardiovascular risk profile corresponds to someone younger, the same, or older than their chronological age. Dr. Christina Michael, one of the researchers involved in the project, states that a higher heart age compared to chronological age is a significant wake-up call, potentially motivating patients to take preventive actions such as lifestyle changes or recommended medications.
The PREVENT Risk Age Calculator is intended to improve patient-clinician communication and help target prevention efforts. Presenting risk as an age rather than a percentage aims to make CVD risk easier for patients to understand and compare with their actual age. However, it is important to note that the tool is for communication and decision support, not a replacement for clinical judgment. Users should discuss results with their clinician.
The tool has been applied to national data, and findings show that most U.S. adults have a heart age older than their chronological age, with larger gaps in men and in people with lower education or income and in Black and Hispanic groups. These findings could help target prevention efforts more effectively.
As with any predictive model, accuracy depends on the quality of input data and the applicability of the underlying equations to individual patients. The tool should be used with clinicians to guide decisions about preventive therapies.
Dr. Rigved Tadwalkar, another researcher involved in the project, explains that the tool gives patients a mirror that's calibrated to their health, not just their age. The tool may help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure events by informing appropriate therapies.
Future research is necessary to determine the best measures for a 'heart age' calculation and validate its prognostic information. Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, another researcher, agrees that the tool can be a useful tool to frame a discussion around someone's heart health and future risk.
In conclusion, the PREVENT Risk Age Calculator is a valuable tool for assessing and discussing CVD risk with patients. It provides a "heart age" calculation that is easier for people to understand compared to traditional heart disease risk presented as a percentage. By calculating a person's heart age, the tool helps determine their cardiovascular disease risk and may motivate patients to take preventive actions to improve their heart health.
- The PREVENT Risk Age Calculator takes into account other heart diseases like type-2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease in its risk assessment.
- This tool can be particularly beneficial for seniors as understanding their heart age and related risk factors is crucial for maintaining good health-and-wellness in their golden years.
- A higher heart age could indicate a higher risk for chronic diseases such as chronic kidney disease or type-2 diabetes.
- To complement the PREVENT Risk Age Calculator, a well-balanced nutrition and regular fitness-and-exercise routines, along with mental-health care, are essential components of overall cardiovascular health.
- Researchers are also looking into the potential benefits of CBD for improving cardiovascular health, brain health, and mental well-being.
- Aside from the heart, the PREVENT Risk Age Calculator also provides insights into various medical-conditions and chronic-diseases that focus on preventive measures and treatment plans.
- By using the PREVENT Risk Age Calculator, patients can make informed decisions about their health-and-wellness journey, collaborating with their medical professionals to build a personalized plan for better cardiovascular health.
- In the future, further advancements in science and technology will allow for more accurate and personalized heart-age calculations, ensuring that everyone can have a better understanding of their unique health profile and fully embrace the concept of proactive health management.
