The ASCVD Risk Estimator Plus app uses advice from the 2019 ACC/AHA Guideline on the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and other respected publications to help patients and clinicians build a plan to lower risk of heart disease and heart attacks. The app is not designed to replace clinical care but rather to support it and help guide discussion and action for doctors and patients.
The Risk Estimator Plus allows users to input all of their information – including age, ethnicity, blood pressure, cholesterol, and more. This information allows the app to estimate the risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) and provide useful information to the patient and clinician.
The 10-year risk estimates can be calculated in two ways: The first way is to enter today’s date to calculate the current 10-year risk (this is recommended for a first-time patient.) The second way is to enter the data from multiple visits so that the app can compare the data and calculate a more accurate estimate with the Million Hearts Longitudinal Assessment tool.
Once the estimate has been calculated, users can use the Therapy Impact tab to form a plan to lower risk with their clinicians and select therapy combinations. With the Advice tab, users can see the change in risk over time and clinicians can share the information in handout graphics, forecasts, and email summaries so that patients can better understand the advice.
There may be a lot of definitions and terms that users do not understand and that is where the Resources tab can help. This tab in the app explains how to use the app, defines terms and calculations, and provides tools and information that can be useful for patients and doctors.
March 23, 1:29PM
User since 2021
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August 4, 9:09PM
User since 2020
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What is so great about this app is that it can give you your risk for heart disease, and it can also tell you about some therapies and the potential risk reduction impact of the therapies. It also has an advice section where it makes suggestions on how you can lower your heart disease risk. It is easy to use. It requires information like your cholesterol level, your blood pressure, and other factors. It is generally used by physicians to calculate patients' risk factors but patients can also use it themselves to be more proactive in their cardiovascular care.
It allows patients to be more proactive about their health care. When patients understand why they are doing certain preventative measures, I think they are more likely to be compliant with therapy.
It does require recent blood work that you may not have readily available but this can be easily overcome.
January 29, 12:12PM
User since 2020
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This app has great look and feel. It's a really good cv risk calculator... only thing is it doesn't seem to calculate risk for anyone over 59, not sure if that's a glitch in the system or not.
easy to use
Doesn't seem to calculate risk for anyone over 59
January 28, 12:10PM
User since 2020
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This is a good Cv risk calculator..great information, and it's super helpful to see your risk factors.
Really useful app
Overall Comment
Have you ever left your doctor’s office feeling like you have way more questions than what you came in with that day? Sometimes I, as a doctor, end up feeling that same way after a patient visit, especially if the patient has misinformation I try to help guide. There’s a lot of bad advice online that often seems legitimate, so helpful and easy-to-use sources have become that much more important these days. This app is AWESOME for showing you the risks of disease based on YOUR specific factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and past medical history. I love being able to put this information into a risk calculator so that during our visit, I’m not just telling a patient they have high cholesterol and need a medicine . . . I’m able to explain why they specifically need it based on a variety of factors, as well as explain what their risks are and what our goals are based on this. This is a fantastic app that encourages active communication between a doctor and a patient.
Pros
Easy to use Provides direction
Cons
Can be difficult for patients to navigate