CV Risk Assessment

How to assess a patient's cardiovascular risk

This is normally done using a risk scoring system (see Calculating cardiovascular risk), such as QRISK3 or ASSIGN. These incorporate a person’s blood pressure, lipid profile and smoking status as well as age, sex, and other risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease to predict their risk of suffering from a myocardial infarction or stroke in the next 10 years. 

 

Suggested interpretation: 

10-year cardiovascular risk and recommended action
10-year cardiovascular risk Recommended action
<10% Lifestyle modification (if appropriate) Drug therapy usually not recommended
10-20% Lifestyle modification Consider/discuss drug therapy
>20% Lifestyle modification Offer drug therapy (if appropriate)

Do not use these risk calculators in people with: 

  • Familial hypercholesterolaemia or other inherited dyslipidaemia
  • Patients with established cardiovascular disease

All these groups should be on lipid-lowering therapy +/- antihypertensive therapy as appropriate. 

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