Ngā aromatawai manawa Heart risk assessment
A heart risk assessment is also called a cardiovascular risk assessment (CVRA). It is an estimate of how likely you are to have a heart attack or stroke within the next 5 years.
How heart risk is worked out
If you have a 10% risk, it means we would expect 10 out of 100 people with the same risk as you to have a heart attack or stroke within the next 5 years.
The factors used to work out your heart risk are your:
- age
- sex
- ethnicity
- medical history, such as past or current heart problems, diabetes and stroke
- family medical history.
Your cholesterol levels, smoking history and blood pressure are also used in the risk assessment.
When you should start having heart risk assessments
The age when you should start having heart risk assessments depends on your sex, ethnicity and other risk factors.
South Asian is Indian — including Fijian Indian, Sri Lankan, Afghani, Bangladeshi, Nepalese, Pakistani or Tibetan peoples.
You are considered to have higher heart risk if:
- you smoke
- you have a parent, brother or sister who has diabetes or high cholesterol or has had a heart attack or stroke
- you have gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or prediabetes
- your weight is very unhealthy
- you have kidney disease
- you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol
- you have previously had a heart problem or a stroke
- you have a heart condition such as atrial fibrillation.
People with any of these risks should start having heart risk assessments at a younger age.
Men and women should have a heart risk assessment every year as part of their annual diabetes review with their healthcare provider.
People with schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder or another severe mental illness have a higher heart risk and should begin heart risk assessments at an earlier age.
My Heart Check tool
My Heart Check is a free online heart health check developed by the Heart Foundation. It is designed for people in Aotearoa New Zealand and is based on New Zealand data.
My Heart Check can estimate your heart age compared with your actual age. It also gives you an estimate of your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 5 years.
My Heart Check — Heart Foundation (external link)
The free online tool works best for people aged 30 to 75. You can still use it if you are older or younger, but your result may be less accurate.
Use My Heart Check to:
- get an idea of your heart health
- get tips for how to improve your heart health
- talk about your heart health with a healthcare provider.
My Heart Check will ask you for information such as:
- your age
- your height and weight
- your cholesterol levels
- your blood pressure
- your medical history.
If you are not sure about some of this information, you can leave it out — the tool can base your results on an estimate.
This tool is not recommended if you have had a heart attack, angina, some other heart conditions or a stroke. These conditions mean you are already at a high risk.
If the results show you are at an increased risk, you will be advised to see your healthcare provider.
Healthcare provider assessment
You can also do a heart risk assessment with your healthcare provider. They can calculate your heart risk based on your age, medical history and other risk factors. They can also advise how often you should have a heart risk assessment.
Self care for heart health
Knowing your risk can help you to decide to make some positive lifestyle changes. You have an important role to play in your heart health.
While you cannot change some risk factors, you can change others. The choices you make every day do matter. Over time, what you eat and drink and how you live can improve your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. It can also decrease your risk of heart disease and stroke.
Even small changes can have a positive impact on your risk of heart attack and stroke. The more healthy changes you make, the better it is for your heart health. Changes you can make include:
- if you smoke, stop smoking
- move more
- eat and drink for a healthy heart
- reach a healthy weight
- manage stress.
Getting help with your heart health
If you are at an increased risk of heart attack or stroke, you may need medication to reduce your risk, as well as lifestyle changes. This may include medicines to lower your cholesterol level and blood pressure.
Your healthcare provider can recommend the best treatments for you.
High cholesterol