Framingham Risk Calculator
Calculate your 10-year cardiovascular disease risk using the validated Framingham Risk Score algorithm.
Enter your health information below to estimate your 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke.
Framingham Risk Calculator
Calculate your 10-year cardiovascular disease risk using the validated Framingham Risk Score algorithm.
About the Framingham Risk Calculator
The Framingham Risk Score is a validated cardiovascular risk assessment tool developed from the landmark Framingham Heart Study, one of the longest-running and most influential epidemiological studies in medical history. Started in 1948, the study has followed generations of participants in Framingham, Massachusetts, identifying the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, and age.
This calculator uses the NCEP ATP III point-scoring algorithm derived from the Framingham data to estimate an individual's 10-year probability of developing a major cardiovascular event — specifically a heart attack (myocardial infarction) or coronary death. The calculation weighs age, sex, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, blood pressure treatment status, and smoking status. Each risk factor is assigned a point value that varies with age because the relative impact of certain factors (like high cholesterol) diminishes at older ages.
The scoring works differently for men and women because their baseline cardiovascular risk profiles differ significantly. Women generally develop cardiovascular disease about 10 years later than men, and premenopausal women benefit from estrogen's protective cardiovascular effects. Both sex-specific tables are derived from the same Framingham cohort data but calibrated to each group's actual outcomes.
Risk categories are defined as: Low risk is below 10% 10-year probability, Moderate risk is 10–20%, and High risk is above 20%. These thresholds are clinically meaningful — the 10% and 20% boundaries correspond to points at which treatment guidelines recommend progressively more aggressive preventive interventions, including lifestyle modification, statin therapy, and blood pressure management.
A note on the diabetes input: the original Framingham model includes diabetes as a scored variable, and this calculator assigns diabetes points according to the published tables. Current guidelines may use slightly different thresholds, and the presence of diabetes itself may warrant a higher preventive treatment intensity regardless of the calculated numeric risk.
This tool is intended for educational purposes and provides an estimate based on population data. Individual risk may differ due to factors not captured in the standard Framingham model, such as family history, C-reactive protein level, coronary calcium score, or other emerging biomarkers. Always discuss your calculated risk with a qualified healthcare professional before making any treatment decisions.
Framingham risk score examples
Click any example button below the calculator to load these patient profiles.
| Patient Profile | 10-Year Risk | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Male, 35 y, TC 180, HDL 55, SBP 120, Non-smoker, No diabetes, No BP med | 1% | Low risk — young adult with favorable cardiovascular profile |
| Male, 55 y, TC 220, HDL 45, SBP 140, Non-smoker, No diabetes, No BP med | 13% | Moderate risk — middle-aged with mildly elevated cholesterol and BP |
| Male, 60 y, TC 280, HDL 35, SBP 160, Smoker, Diabetes, BP med | 30%+ | High risk — multiple major risk factors present |
| Female, 58 y, TC 240, HDL 50, SBP 145, Non-smoker, No diabetes, BP med | 9% | Borderline moderate — postmenopausal woman with treated hypertension |
How to use the Framingham risk calculator
- Enter your age in years (valid range 20–79) and select your biological sex.
- Input your most recent fasting total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol values in mg/dL.
- Enter your systolic blood pressure and indicate whether you are currently taking blood pressure medication.
- Select Yes or No for current smoking status and whether you have been diagnosed with diabetes.
- Click Calculate Risk to see your estimated 10-year cardiovascular risk score and risk category.
Framingham risk calculator FAQ
What does the Framingham Risk Score measure?
The Framingham Risk Score estimates your probability of experiencing a major cardiovascular event — heart attack or coronary death — within the next 10 years. It uses key risk factors including age, sex, cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes to generate a percentage risk from population-based data.
Who should use the Framingham calculator?
This tool is primarily designed for adults aged 20–79 without pre-existing cardiovascular disease. If you already have coronary artery disease, have had a heart attack, or have a very high-risk condition such as familial hypercholesterolemia, your risk is considered automatically elevated and this calculator is not the appropriate tool for your situation.
What is considered a high Framingham Risk Score?
A 10-year cardiovascular risk above 20% is classified as high, indicating a similar absolute risk to someone who already has established heart disease. A risk of 10–20% is considered moderate, and below 10% is considered low. Medical guidelines typically recommend statin therapy and intensive lifestyle changes for moderate-to-high risk individuals.
Does the calculator include stroke risk?
The standard Framingham Risk Score used here focuses on coronary heart disease outcomes (heart attack and coronary death). The original Framingham study has also published separate stroke risk equations, but those require additional inputs and are not included in this standard CHD risk calculator. For combined CVD risk including stroke, QRISK3 may be more appropriate.
How can I lower my Framingham risk score?
The most impactful modifiable risk factors are smoking cessation, blood pressure control, and cholesterol reduction through diet, exercise, and medication. Quitting smoking alone can reduce cardiovascular risk by up to 50% within one to two years. Losing even 5–10% of body weight can meaningfully improve multiple risk factors simultaneously.
Is this calculator a substitute for medical advice?
No. This calculator is an educational tool that provides population-based estimates. Your personal risk may be higher or lower depending on factors not included in the standard model, such as family history, inflammatory markers, or coronary calcium scores. Always review your results with a qualified clinician before making treatment decisions.