It is a sex-specific algorithm used to estimate the 10-year cardiovascular risk of an individual. Developed using data from the Framingham Heart Study, it helps identify individuals who may benefit from preventive interventions such as lifestyle changes or statin therapy.

Generally, a 10-year risk <10% is considered low, 10–20% is moderate, and >20% is high. Current guidelines recommend discussing statin therapy for patients with a 10-year risk ≥7.5–10%, depending on the guideline used. Individual patient factors and shared decision-making are important.

The Framingham Risk Score is designed for adults aged 30–79 without known cardiovascular disease. It should not be used for patients with existing heart disease, as they are already at high risk and require secondary prevention strategies.

Key modifiable risk factors include: quitting smoking (the single most impactful change), controlling blood pressure, managing cholesterol through diet and/or medication, exercising regularly (150 min/week moderate activity), maintaining a healthy weight, and managing diabetes if present.