Cardiology
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Overview
After examination is made by the physician, diagnostic methods such as ECG, ECHO, cardiac stress test, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, ECG Holter, cardiac MRI, myocardial perfusion scintigraphy and cardiac tomography are used at Cardiology Department.
Besides, intravascular ultrasound imaging is performed with IVUS (intravascular ultrasound) method. Fractional flow reserve is used to determine severity of stenosis with pressure wires. Optic Coherence Tomography (OCT) is another diagnostic method that allows tomographic imaging inside the blood vessel.
Framingham Risk Score Calculator
Assess your 10-year cardiovascular disease risk
This calculator is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. The Framingham Risk Score is based on the Framingham Heart Study and may not be equally accurate for all populations. Please consult with healthcare professionals for personalized assessment.
Your 10-Year CVD Risk
🧮 Calculation Methodology
How Your Risk Score is Calculated
This calculator uses the Framingham Risk Score algorithm enhanced with BMI (Body Mass Index) as an additional risk modifier. The calculation follows these steps:
Step 1: Basic Risk Factors (Framingham Points)
The traditional Framingham Risk Score assigns points based on the following factors:
📅 Age
Points are assigned based on your age group. Older age increases cardiovascular risk.
- Men: -9 points (age 20-34) to +13 points (age 75-79)
- Women: -7 points (age 20-34) to +16 points (age 75-79)
🧪 Total Cholesterol
Higher total cholesterol increases risk. Points vary by age and gender.
- If you know your value: We use your actual lab result
- If you select "I don't know": We use 200 mg/dL (average population value)
Typical range: 100-400 mg/dL. Optimal: <200 mg/dL
✨ HDL Cholesterol (Good Cholesterol)
Higher HDL cholesterol is protective and reduces risk.
- If you know your value: We use your actual lab result
- If you select "I don't know": We use 50 mg/dL (average population value)
Typical range: 20-100 mg/dL. Optimal: ≥60 mg/dL
🩺 Blood Pressure
Higher blood pressure increases cardiovascular risk significantly.
- If you know your value: We use your actual systolic (upper) reading
- If you select "I don't know": We use 120 mmHg (normal value)
- Medication status: Being on BP medication increases points slightly
- If you don't know medication status: We assume "No" (conservative estimate)
Normal: <120 mmHg, Elevated: 120-129, High: ≥130 mmHg
🚬 Smoking Status
Smoking significantly increases cardiovascular risk, especially in younger individuals.
- Current smokers: +1 to +9 points (depending on age)
- Non-smokers: 0 points
🩸 Diabetes Status
Diabetes is a major cardiovascular risk factor.
- If you have diabetes: +4 points
- If you don't have diabetes: 0 points
- If you select "I don't know": We assume "No" (0 points, conservative estimate)
Step 2: BMI Enhancement (Additional Risk Factor)
We calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) from your height and weight using the formula:
⚖️ BMI Categories & Additional Points
Based on your BMI, we add extra points to your Framingham score:
| BMI Range | Category | Additional Points |
|---|---|---|
| < 18.5 | Underweight | +1 point |
| 18.5 - 24.9 | Normal Weight | 0 points ✓ |
| 25 - 29.9 | Overweight | +2 points |
| 30 - 34.9 | Obese (Class I) | +3 points |
| ≥ 35 | Obese (Class II+) | +4 points |
Why BMI matters: Obesity is an independent risk factor for heart disease, increasing inflammation, blood pressure, and metabolic stress.
Step 3: Convert Points to Risk Percentage
After calculating your total points (Framingham + BMI), we convert this to your 10-year cardiovascular disease risk percentage using validated lookup tables.
📊 Risk Categories
| Risk Category | 10-Year Risk | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Low Risk | < 10% | Continue healthy lifestyle |
| Moderate Risk | 10% - 20% | Consider lifestyle changes & preventive strategies |
| High Risk | > 20% | Aggressive risk reduction recommended |
Important Notes About "I Don't Know" Options
⚠️ When you select "I don't know" for any value:
- We use population average values for a conservative estimate
- Your result will show an asterisk (*) noting that some values were estimated
- The actual risk could be higher or lower depending on your real values
- For most accurate results: Get a blood test and know your cholesterol and blood pressure values
Default Values Used When "I Don't Know" is Selected
| Parameter | Default Value | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Total Cholesterol | 200 mg/dL | Average U.S. adult value |
| HDL Cholesterol | 50 mg/dL | Average U.S. adult value |
| Systolic BP | 120 mmHg | Normal blood pressure threshold |
| BP Medication | No | Conservative assumption |
| Diabetes | No | Conservative assumption |
Example Calculation
Sample Patient:
- Age: 55 years old, Male
- Height: 175 cm, Weight: 85 kg → BMI: 27.8 (Overweight)
- Total Cholesterol: I don't know → 200 mg/dL used
- HDL Cholesterol: 45 mg/dL
- Blood Pressure: 140 mmHg
- BP Medication: No
- Smoker: No
- Diabetes: No
Point Breakdown:
- Age (55, male): +8 points
- Total Cholesterol (200, age 55): +2 points
- HDL (45): +1 point
- BP (140, no meds): +1 point
- Smoker: 0 points
- Diabetes: 0 points
- BMI (27.8 - Overweight): +2 points
Total Points: 14 → 10-Year Risk: 18.4% (Moderate Risk) *
* Some values were estimated based on population averages
Accuracy & Limitations
This calculator provides an estimate based on:
- ✅ The validated Framingham Risk Score algorithm
- ✅ BMI as an additional risk modifier
- ⚠️ Population averages when you don't know certain values
For the most accurate assessment:
- 📋 Get a comprehensive blood test (lipid panel)
- 🩺 Check your blood pressure regularly
- 👨⚕️ Discuss results with your healthcare provider
- 🔄 Reassess annually or when health status changes
Medical Disclaimer: This calculator is for educational purposes only. It should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals for personalized medical guidance.
📚 Academic References & Validation
About the Framingham Risk Score
The Framingham Risk Score is a sex-specific algorithm used to estimate the 10-year cardiovascular risk of an individual. It was first developed based on data obtained from the Framingham Heart Study, which began in 1948 and has followed participants for decades to identify risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Enhanced Risk Assessment
This calculator uses the traditional Framingham Risk Score enhanced with BMI (Body Mass Index) as an additional risk modifier. Research has shown that obesity is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and should be considered in comprehensive risk assessment.
Development & Validation
The Framingham Heart Study has provided the foundation for cardiovascular risk prediction for over 70 years. The risk score has been validated across multiple populations and continues to be one of the most widely used tools in clinical practice worldwide.
- Original Cohort: Over 5,000 participants from Framingham, Massachusetts
- Validation Studies: Tested in diverse populations across multiple countries
- Clinical Guidelines: Incorporated into major cardiovascular prevention guidelines globally
Key Research Publications
Primary Framingham Study (1998) Wilson PWF, et al. "Prediction of Coronary Heart Disease Using Risk Factor Categories" - Circulation Framingham General CVD Risk (2008) D'Agostino RB, et al. "General Cardiovascular Risk Profile for Use in Primary Care" - Circulation Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis (2019) Damen JA, et al. "Performance of the Framingham risk models and pooled cohort equations" - BMC Medicine Canadian Validation Study (2020) Seko Y, et al. "Calibration and discrimination of the Framingham Risk Score" - CMAJ Open Recent Validation (2025) Paiva MQ, et al. "Framingham score adapted: a valid alternative for estimating cardiovascular risk" - BMC Cardiovascular DisordersImportant Considerations
Strengths:
- Extensively validated across multiple populations
- Simple to use with readily available clinical parameters
- Strong evidence base spanning over 70 years
- Widely accepted in clinical guidelines
- Enhanced with BMI for comprehensive assessment
Limitations:
- May overestimate risk in low-risk populations
- May underestimate risk in certain ethnic groups
- Originally developed in a predominantly white population
- Does not account for newer risk factors like hsCRP or coronary calcium
- When laboratory values are unknown, average population values are used
Clinical Use
The Framingham Risk Score is recommended by major cardiovascular societies including the American Heart Association (AHA) and American College of Cardiology (ACC) for risk assessment in primary prevention. It helps guide decisions about lifestyle interventions and preventive medications.
Note: This calculator is for educational and informational purposes. Always consult with qualified healthcare professionals for medical advice and treatment decisions.
Video Reviews
Treatment Methods
Although treatment options vary by patient and disease, preferred treatments include medications, surgeries, coronary angioplasty, stent placement, minimally invasive techniques, pacemaker, use of support devices, MitraClip, EVAR, TEVAR and TAVI. World-class services are rendered by experienced and specialist physicians at Cardiology Clinic.
With the help of cutting-edge equipment, the best treatment method is determined for patients with health problems such as congenital heart diseases, coronary artery diseases, heart failure, heart attack, cardiac rhythm disorders, peripheral vascular diseases, aortic disorders, atherosclerosis and hypertension.
- ICD - CRT-D Application
- Pacemaker Implantation
- Pacemaker Applications
- Asd Closure Procedures
- EPS - Ablation Procedures
- Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- Percutaneous Peripheral Interventions
- TAVI Application
- Coronary Angiography
- Ivus Treatment
- Carotid Artery Stenting
- Closing The Heart Holes
- PDA Closing Procedures
- VSD Closing Procedures
- TAVI Treatment
- Renal Denervation
- Balloon Angioplasty and Stent Placement
- Coronary and Peripheral Artery Stenting
- CT Angiography
- Echocardiography Examination
- Heart Checks For Oncology Patients
- Resistant Hypertension Patients
- OCT Treatment
- Peripheral Angiography
- Right Heart Catheterization
FAQ
A cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases of the heart and blood vessels. They manage conditions like high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems, and heart failure.
You should consult a cardiologist if you experience:
Chest pain or pressure
Shortness of breath
Irregular heartbeat (palpitations)
Fatigue or dizziness
Swelling in the legs or ankles
High blood pressure or cholesterol
Our Cardiology Department treats a wide range of cardiovascular conditions, including:
Coronary artery disease (heart blockages)
Heart failure
Arrhythmias (e.g., atrial fibrillation)
Heart valve disorders
Congenital heart defects
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Cardiomyopathies
Peripheral vascular disease
We use advanced, non-invasive and invasive techniques, including:
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Echocardiogram (heart ultrasound)
Cardiac stress test
Holter monitor (24–48 hour rhythm recording)
Coronary angiography
Cardiac CT and MRI
Heart tomography (CT angiography)
Coronary angiography is a minimally invasive procedure used to visualize the heart’s blood vessels and detect blockages. It’s typically recommended if you have chest pain, abnormal stress test results, or a high risk of heart disease.
Depending on the condition, treatment options may include:
Lifestyle modification and medications
Interventional procedures (angioplasty, stenting)
Electrophysiological studies and ablation
Pacemaker or ICD placement
Valve repair or replacement
Cardiac rehabilitation
A healthy diet
Regular exercise
Not smoking
Controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar
Regular heart check-ups, especially if you have a family history