A Web-based System For Prediction Of Coronary Heart Disease Risk Using The Framingham Algorithm

Background. Although coronary heart disease (CHD) continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among adults in the U.S., it is possible to prevent CHD through modification of risk factors. The major and independent risk factors are elevated blood pressure, cigarette smoking, elevated LDL-C and cholesterol (TC), low HDL-C, diabetes mellitus, and advancing age. Primary prevention of CHD defined as risk reduction in patients without established CHD requires an assessment of risk to effectively classify patients for selection of appropriate interventions. A statistical model using the above risk factors to predict CHD risk over 10 years has been developed by the Framingham Heart Study. 1 Although score sheets were also developed to help clinicians predict patient CHD risk, they require clinicians to spend time classifying several risk scores and adding them together, introducing the possibility of error. An easier way to help patients accurately identify CHD risk themselves is needed.