Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Assessment
Individuals who are at high risk for heart disease should know which characteristics or lifestyle factors put them at risk and should make the changes necessary to lower them.
Age, diabetes status, family history, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, smoking and obesity are factors that can compound overall heart disease risk. The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology state that any major risk factor, if left untreated for many years, has the potential to produce cardiovascular disease. Nonetheless, an assessment of total risk based on the summation of all major risk factors can be clinically useful for 3 purposes:
- identification of high-risk patients who deserve immediate attention and intervention
- motivation of patients to adhere to risk-reduction therapies, and
- modification of intensity of risk-reduction efforts based on the total risk estimate.
Assessment
In an effort to promote primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, we are encouraging members and physicians to utilize this link provided by the American Heart Association as a health management resource.
Take a Risk Assessment >>
Members over the age of 44 should be assessed for cardiovascular disease risk according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations.
This tool will assist physicians in co-developing a risk reduction plan with members who have risk factors for heart disease. Physicians can also download a sample action plan (requires Adobe Reader) to use when discussing risk reduction with patients.
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