The only calculator on this site that interprets your full lipid panel — LDL, HDL, triglycerides, and cholesterol ratios — alongside a validated Framingham CVD risk score.
Framingham 2008 general CVD equations · Full lipid panel · Ages 30–79
This Cardiac Risk Calculator is deliberately different from the other tools on this site. It uses the Framingham 2008 general CVD risk equations (D'Agostino Sr RB et al., Circulation 2008;117:743–753) and is the only calculator here that accepts and interprets a full lipid panel — including LDL, triglycerides, and diastolic blood pressure — alongside the primary risk score.
The Framingham 2008 equations predict 10-year risk of a composite of four cardiovascular events: coronary heart disease (heart attack), stroke, peripheral artery disease, and heart failure. This is a broader outcome set than either the ASCVD calculator (CHD + stroke only) or the basic PREVENT calculator (CHD + stroke + heart failure).
Validated on the Framingham Heart Study cohort. Predicts CHD, stroke, PAD, and heart failure combined — the broadest event composite of any calculator on this site.
Interprets your complete lipid panel: LDL category, HDL adequacy, triglyceride risk, non-HDL, LDL/HDL ratio, and total/HDL ratio per ACC/AHA 2018 guidelines.
Calculates pulse pressure (SBP minus DBP) as an indicator of arterial stiffness — the reason diastolic BP is collected, even though it's not in the Framingham equation directly.
You have access to four different cardiovascular risk calculators on this site. Here is when each one is most appropriate:
LDL cholesterol is the primary target of statin therapy. Per ACC/AHA 2018 guidelines, an LDL below 100 mg/dL is optimal for most adults; those with very high CVD risk should target below 70 mg/dL. An LDL of 190 mg/dL or above typically indicates familial hypercholesterolemia and warrants high-intensity statin therapy regardless of calculated risk.
HDL cholesterol is protective — higher is better. HDL below 40 mg/dL in men or below 50 mg/dL in women is a cardiovascular risk factor. HDL above 60 mg/dL provides a protective effect. Note that very high HDL (above 80 mg/dL) does not provide additional protection and may in some cases be associated with dysfunction.
Triglycerides below 150 mg/dL are normal. Elevated triglycerides (200+ mg/dL) are associated with increased cardiovascular risk, especially when combined with low HDL or high LDL — a pattern called atherogenic dyslipidemia. Very high triglycerides (500+ mg/dL) carry risk of acute pancreatitis independent of cardiovascular risk.
Pulse pressure (systolic minus diastolic blood pressure) above 60 mmHg is associated with increased arterial stiffness and elevated cardiovascular risk, particularly in older adults. It is not used in the Framingham equation directly, but is displayed as a clinical marker worth discussing with your doctor.
An LDL/HDL ratio below 2.0 is optimal. A ratio of 2.0–3.5 is acceptable for most low-risk adults. Above 3.5 is elevated, and above 5.0 is considered high risk. However, the ratio is a screening tool, not a treatment target — your absolute LDL value and overall cardiovascular risk should drive treatment decisions.
The Framingham 2008 general CVD score predicts a wider event set (CHD + stroke + peripheral artery disease + heart failure), while the 2013 ASCVD Pooled Cohort Equations predict only CHD and stroke. The Framingham score was derived from the Framingham Heart Study cohort; the PCE was derived from a pooled set of larger, more diverse NHLBI cohorts. For U.S. statin-prescribing decisions, the ASCVD calculator is the guideline-recommended tool — Framingham provides useful complementary context.
Per AHA/ACC guidelines: normal is below 150 mg/dL, borderline high is 150–199 mg/dL, high is 200–499 mg/dL, and very high is 500 mg/dL or above. The very high category carries risk of acute pancreatitis. At the 200–499 range, lifestyle changes (reducing refined carbohydrates, alcohol, and saturated fat; increasing physical activity) are the first-line intervention.
Diastolic BP is not part of the Framingham 2008 equation — it uses only systolic BP. However, the difference between systolic and diastolic (called pulse pressure) is a clinically meaningful marker of arterial stiffness, particularly in adults over 60. A pulse pressure above 60 mmHg warrants discussion with your doctor. Collecting DBP also allows verification that SBP and DBP values are internally consistent.