ASCVD risk calculator (10-year heart attack and stroke risk)

What counts as a high ASCVD risk score?

The ACC/AHA bands are: under 5% low, 5% to 7.4% borderline, 7.5% to 19.9% intermediate and 20% or above high. Statin therapy is generally discussed from 7.5% upward, alongside risk-enhancing factors such as family history, chronic inflammatory disease or a raised coronary calcium score.

What inputs does the ASCVD calculator need?

Age, sex, race group, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, whether that pressure is treated, diabetes status and current smoking. A lipid panel and one recent blood-pressure reading cover everything.

How accurate is the Pooled Cohort Equations model?

It was derived from five US community cohorts and is the reference model in US prevention guidelines. It can over-estimate risk in some contemporary and non-US populations, and it is not validated below age 40 or above 79. Use it as a conversation starter with a clinician, not a verdict.

How to lower your 10-year risk

The modifiable inputs are systolic blood pressure, LDL and HDL cholesterol, smoking and glucose control. Re-running the calculator after a change in any one of them shows how much the estimate moves — and logging each run builds a trend you can take to an appointment.

Frequently asked questions

Is the ASCVD risk calculator free?

Yes. This calculator is free, needs no account and runs entirely in your browser — nothing you enter is transmitted or stored.

What age range is the ASCVD calculator valid for?

The Pooled Cohort Equations are validated for adults aged 40 to 79 without established cardiovascular disease.

Can I use it if I already had a heart attack?

No. The model estimates a first cardiovascular event. If you have established disease you are already in the high-risk group and secondary-prevention guidance applies.