The coronary risk profile is a measure of an individual’s chance of having some sort of heart-related problem in the next 10 years. Risk can never be a firm measurement, and future disease or events (such as a heart attack) cannot be definitively predicted or ruled out. However, the risk assessment helps shape appropriate preventive measures that can be helpful to patients and physicians.

To help people determine their risk of having a heart-related problem in the next 10 years, the authors of the Framingham Heart Disease Epidemiology Study developed a simple one-page worksheet. The worksheet measures heart health using both controllable and uncontrollable risk factors. These risk factors include:

The score sheet, however, is intended only as a general guideline for patients and physicians. It does not take into account all the known risk factors for heart disease, such as family medical history or exercise habits. Instead, it is meant to provide a starting point for discussions of heart-healthy living and may lead to greater scrutiny of known risk factors.

The original Framingham Heart Study was performed only on statistics gleaned from white males. Researchers are currently working to develop coronary risk profile sheets specific to other populations.