CVD risk calculators

• People aged 45–74 years, not already known to have CVD
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples aged 30–74 years*
• Those not already clinically determined to be at high risk

Adults with any of the following conditions are clinically determined to be at high risk:

1. Diabetes and age >60 years
2. Diabetes with microalbuminuria (>20 mcg/min or urinary albumin:creatinine ratio (UACR) >2.5 mg/mmol for males, >3.5 mg/mmol for females)
3. Moderate or severe chronic kidney disease (persistent proteinuria or estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <45 mL/min/1.73m²)
4. A previous diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia
5. Systolic blood pressure ≥180 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥110 mmHg
6. Serum total cholesterol >7.5 mmol/L

* The Australian absolute CVD risk calculator does not allow calculations using an age of less than 35 years. For these ages it is recommended that an age of 35 is used for the purposes of the calculation. As the FRE underestimates the risk of CVD events in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples aged less than 35 years, the use of a slightly older age is unlikely to significantly inflate CVD risk.

TIPS: For other considerations, including special populations and risk factors not included in the calculation, please refer to the Guidelines for the management of absolute cardiovascular disease risk (PDF).

The electronic CVD risk calculator is available online and in some general practice clinical information systems (CIS). Alternatively, you can manually do the calculation using the Australian cardiovascular risk charts. Your choice of calculator is a matter of personal preference and availability.

The most common risk calculators are:

• Australian absolute CVD risk calculator (online)

• Australian cardiovascular risk charts (manual process)

• Absolute CVD risk calculators embedded in clinical software.

A useful online risk calculator resource is found at auscvdrisk.com.au. You'll find a patient risk calculator, which is a new interactive version of the Australian five-year CVD risk calculator to help guide discussion about management options and create patient decision aids.

TIPS: When using the online calculator, remember to record a CVD risk score in the patient's record. 

TIPS: When using the online calculator, use the ‘Add a Comparison’ function to show the patient how modifying certain risk factors can improve the result e.g. stopping smoking or reducing blood pressure.

1. Open the patient record. From within the Clinical Window click the red heart icon to open the CV risk calculator.
2. Select the Absolute CVD Risk Calculator tab. Gender, age, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, diabetes status, smoking status and lipid levels (HL7 formatted results) will pre-populate if recorded correctly in the patient record. A patient who has quit smoking within the last year will be considered a smoker for the purposes of the calculation.
3. Update any missing values. The calculator produces the percentage probability of developing CVD within five years.
4. Click Save to record the result in today’s Progress notes and the CV Risk Calculator Tool Box.

Watch the screen recording of instructions, below.

1. Open the patient record. From within the Clinical Window select the Clinical tab.
2. Select Cardiovascular risk. Blood pressure, diabetes status, smoking status, lipid levels (HL7 formatted results) will auto-populate if recorded correctly in the patient record.
3. Update any missing values. The calculator produces the percentage probability of developing CVD within five years.
4. Click Save to record result in Today’s notes and observations.

See screen recording of instructions below.