PREVENT Risk Estimator

The American Heart Association's PREVENT equations (2023) are the newest tool for estimating 10-year cardiovascular risk, used to help guide decisions about statins and blood pressure medication — and the risk categories below reflect the 2026 ACC/AHA dyslipidemia guideline, which lowered the risk-category thresholds specifically because PREVENT runs lower than the older Pooled Cohort Equations. This page uses the same risk factors in a simplified, transparent scoring model built for education — it is not the exact validated AHA formula. For your official, clinical-grade number, use the link at the bottom of this page.

Age PREVENT is validated for ages 30–79

Sex

Systolic blood pressure (top number)

Total cholesterol (mg/dL)

HDL cholesterol (mg/dL)

BMI

eGFR (kidney function, from a recent blood test) Found on a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel; normal is roughly 90+

Currently taking blood pressure medication Diabetes Current smoker

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This is an educational approximation, not the validated AHA PREVENT calculation. It's built from the same general risk factors and directional relationships (age, blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, weight, and kidney function all raising or lowering risk), scored in a simplified, transparent way — but it does not reproduce the AHA's exact statistical model. For your official, clinically validated PREVENT risk estimate, use the American Heart Association's own calculator: professional.heart.org/PREVENT ↗. Bring that number to your next appointment.

How to Read Your Category

Updated per the 2026 ACC/AHA multi-society dyslipidemia guideline, which lowered these thresholds specifically because PREVENT produces lower risk estimates than the older Pooled Cohort Equations for the same patient — a person who was "intermediate risk" under the old tool may calculate as "high risk" here at a lower percentage, and that's expected, not an error.

10-Year Risk	Category	General Approach
Under 3%	Low risk	Emphasize lifestyle; a statin is not generally recommended
3% to under 5%	Borderline risk	Lifestyle first; a statin can be considered, especially with risk-enhancing factors
5% to under 10%	Intermediate risk	A statin should be considered after a discussion with your care team; a calcium score can help refine the decision
10% or higher	High risk	A statin is generally recommended, with non-statin medications added if targets aren't met