Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) includes nonfatal myocardial infarction (heart attack), coronary heart disease death, and fatal or nonfatal stroke caused by atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in arteries).

What are the Pooled Cohort Equations?

The Pooled Cohort Equations (PCE) were developed by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) in 2013. They estimate the 10-year risk of a first ASCVD event in adults aged 40–79 using sex- and race-specific coefficient sets derived from large population cohort studies.

What do the risk categories mean?

Low: <5% — Borderline: 5–7.5% — Intermediate: 7.5–20% — High: 20% or more. These categories guide decisions about lifestyle intervention and statin therapy per the 2018 ACC/AHA cholesterol guidelines.

Who should use this calculator?

This Pooled Cohort Equation estimate is intended for primary-prevention adults aged 40–79 without clinical ASCVD. The ACC estimator applies it when LDL-C is below 190 mg/dL; people with prior myocardial infarction, stroke, symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, or LDL-C of 190 mg/dL or higher need direct clinical assessment rather than this result.

Is this tool a substitute for medical advice?

No. This calculator is for educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider to interpret your results and determine the appropriate management plan for your individual situation.

Why are there separate equations for race and sex?

The PCE was derived from cohort studies that showed statistically significant differences in cardiovascular risk by race and sex at the same risk factor levels. Separate coefficient sets improve calibration for White and African American adults; the ACC/AHA notes the equations may be less accurate for other racial/ethnic groups.

Why is my ASCVD risk high when my cholesterol and blood pressure are normal?

Age carries the most weight in the Pooled Cohort Equations. A 70-year-old white man with total cholesterol 170 mg/dL, HDL 50 mg/dL, untreated systolic pressure 110 mmHg, no smoking and no diabetes still scores 13.1%, which is in the intermediate band. The 2018 AHA/ACC cholesterol guideline asks clinicians to weigh risk-enhancing factors and, when unsure, a coronary calcium score before deciding on treatment.

Is this the same as the AHA PREVENT calculator?

No. This tool uses the 2013 Pooled Cohort Equations (Goff et al., Circulation 2014), which the 2018 AHA/ACC cholesterol guideline is built on. The AHA PREVENT equations (Khan et al., published in Circulation in 2023) are a newer model for ages 30 to 79 that drops race, adds kidney function (eGFR) and also predicts heart failure, so the two give different numbers for the same person.

ASCVD Risk Calculator

Estimate your 10-year risk of a first atherosclerotic cardiovascular event using the ACC/AHA 2013 Pooled Cohort Equations.

The ASCVD risk calculator estimates the chance of a first heart attack, coronary death or stroke in the next 10 years, using the 2013 ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations for adults aged 40 to 79.

Patient Information

Sex

Race / Ethnicity

Equations validated for White and African American adults. Other groups: consult a clinician.

Age (40–79 years)

Total Cholesterol (mg/dL)

HDL Cholesterol (mg/dL)

Systolic Blood Pressure (mmHg)

Currently on blood pressure treatment

Diabetes (type 1 or type 2)

Current smoker

Fill in all fields to see your 10-year ASCVD risk estimate

Medical Disclaimer: This calculator is an educational, non-diagnostic estimate and must not be used by itself to start, stop, or change treatment. The ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations are intended for primary-prevention adults aged 40–79 without clinical ASCVD and with LDL-C below 190 mg/dL. Results may be less accurate outside the populations used to derive the equations. Review the result and all risk-enhancing factors with a qualified healthcare provider.

Quick answer

The ASCVD risk calculator estimates the chance of a first heart attack, coronary death or stroke in the next 10 years, using the 2013 ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort Equations for adults aged 40 to 79. Under 5% is low, 5 to 7.4% borderline, 7.5 to 19.9% intermediate and 20% or more high.

Examples

Age 55, TC 213, HDL 50, SBP 120 untreated, no diabetes	Non-smoker	Smoker
White woman	2.1%	5.0%
White man	5.4%	10.0%
African American woman	3.0%	5.9%
African American man	6.1%	10.3%

Enter your own numbers to get your 10-year risk, category and the equation steps.

Summary

Estimate your 10-year risk of a first atherosclerotic cardiovascular event using the ACC/AHA 2013 Pooled Cohort Equations.

How it works

Select your sex and race/ethnicity.
Enter your age (40–79 years).
Enter your total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol in mg/dL.
Enter your systolic blood pressure in mmHg and indicate if you are on blood pressure treatment.
Check the boxes for smoking and diabetes if applicable.
Click Calculate to see your estimated 10-year ASCVD risk and risk category.

Use cases

Understand your personal 10-year cardiovascular risk before a doctor visit.
See how lifestyle changes (quitting smoking, lowering cholesterol) might affect your risk.
Learn which risk category you fall into: Low, Borderline, Intermediate, or High.
Discuss statin therapy eligibility with your healthcare provider using objective risk data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-05-23 · Reviewed by Nham Vu

ASCVD Risk Calculator

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ASCVD Risk Calculator

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