What does this tool measure?
Click
here if you have atrial fibrillation, are age 55 or older, and want to
.
This interactive tool measures the
chance of having a
in the next 5 years, for people who are age 55
or older and have
. To calculate your score, the tool
uses the information you enter.
This tool is based on information
from the Framingham Heart Study. Since 1948 the Framingham Heart Study has
studied the progression of heart disease and its risk factors. The data from
this study has been used to make a risk assessment.
You should be
aware, though, that the tool cannot be applied to everyone. This tool does not
work for people who:
- Have
or significant left ventricular
dysfunction, which interferes with the heart's ability to pump well.
- Are already taking an anticoagulant such as warfarin (Coumadin).
Anticoagulants, also called blood thinners, prevent clots from forming and greatly lower the risk of
stroke.
- Have had a stroke or transient ischemic attack within 30
days of developing atrial fibrillation. If so, you are already at high risk,
and this tool will not work for you.
The values you enter include the most important risk
factors for stroke. They are:
- Age and gender. The risk
of stroke increases with age. The risk doubles every decade after age 55. Also,
among those with atrial fibrillation, women have a higher risk of stroke than
men.
- Systolic blood pressure. Systolic blood
pressure is the first number of your blood pressure reading. For example, if
your reading is 120/80 (120 over 80), your systolic blood pressure is 120
millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
- Diabetes.
Having diabetes increases your risk of stroke. You can help lower this risk by
working with your doctor to keep your blood sugar levels in a target range.
- Prior stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). If you have had a stroke or a transient ischemic
attack (TIA) within 30 days of developing atrial fibrillation, you are already
at high risk, and this tool will not work for you. But if you had a prior
stroke or TIA before you developed atrial fibrillation, this tool will work for
you.