A new heart disease risk calculator developed by the American Heart Association (AHA) aims to reduce health disparities by excluding race as a factor in its equations. The PREVENT™ risk calculator estimates the 10- and 30-year risk of total cardiovascular disease for individuals aged 30 and older, focusing on cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic health measures. By acknowledging race as a social factor rather than a biological one, the AHA hopes to create a more equitable tool for predicting heart disease risk.
The PREVENT™ calculator is designed to be sex-specific and race-free, incorporating an index of social determinants of health to provide a more comprehensive assessment. This approach aims to address the historical biases in medical algorithms that have contributed to health disparities among different racial and ethnic groups.
Research teams from Northwestern University, New York University, and Duke University are currently testing the accuracy of the PREVENT™ calculator among diverse groups to ensure its effectiveness in reducing health disparities. The AHA has provided grants to support this research, highlighting the importance of developing tools that can be used equitably across all populations.
The introduction of the PREVENT™ calculator represents a significant step towards more inclusive and accurate heart disease risk assessment. By focusing on social determinants of health and excluding race as a factor, the AHA aims to improve clinical decisions and promote better health outcomes for all individuals, regardless of their racial or ethnic background.
See “Will a new heart disease risk calculator reduce health disparities?” (October 1, 2024)
