Assessing absolute cardiovascular (CVD) risk
The first Australian Guidelines for the assessment of absolute cardiovascular disease risk are now available. These guidelines were developed to support health professionals in the assessment of absolute cardiovascular risk.

Absolute risk, as defined in these guidelines, is the numerical probability of a cardiovascular event occurring within a five-year period. It reflects a person’s ‘individualised’ risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), as opposed to the traditional method that considers various risk factors, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure, in isolation. 

These guidelines make recommendations for assessing absolute CVD risk in adults aged 45-74 years (35 years and above for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander adults). They feature sections on assessing adults:

• without known CVD
• with diabetes or chronic kidney disease
• who are overweight or obese.

These guidelines are an important step toward a single preventive approach to CVD in Australia. Clinical decisions based on absolute risk can lead to improved health outcomes by identifying people most at risk and directing the right treatments to them.

The guidelines were developed by the National Vascular Disease Prevention Alliance (NVDPA)* and approved by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

You can access the guidelines and associated publications below. Email us for more information.

*NVDPA members: Diabetes Australia, Kidney Health Australia, the National Heart Foundation of Australia and the National Stroke Foundation.

Resources

Absolute CVD risk

• Guidelines for the assessment of absolute cardiovascular disease risk
   Download
• Absolute cardiovascular disease risk assessment - quick reference guide for health professionals
   Download
• Australian cardiovascular risk charts (for optimal clarity and use, please print these charts in colour)
    Download
• Absolute cardiovascular disease risk. Technical report: review of the evidence and evidence-based recommendations for practice
   Download
• An online absolute risk calculator is available at www.cvdcheck.org.au
• Know your heart and stroke risk (consumer booklet)
   Download
• Know your heart and stroke risk (consumer summary sheet)
   Download

Other resources
We have compiled a useful range of resources aimed at Australia's health professionals. These resources cover:

• prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD)
• chronic heart failure (CHF)
• acute coronary syndrome (ACS)
• acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD)
• medicines
• lipid management
• hypertension.

For more information on the area that interests you, please use the navigation bar at the right of this page.