Framingham Stroke Risk Calculator
Estimate your 10-year probability of stroke with the Framingham Stroke Risk Score. Enter gender, age, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, cardiovascular disease, atrial fibrillation and LVH status to get an instant result.
Congestive Stroke Risk
Framingham Stroke Risk Score Formula
Where:
- \(P_{\text{age}}\) — points for the patient's age group (0–10)
- \(P_{\text{SBP}}\) — points for the systolic blood pressure group (0–10)
- \(D\) — diabetes (1 if yes, 0 if no)
- \(S\) — smoking (1 if yes, 0 if no)
- \(C\) — cardiovascular disease (1 if yes, 0 if no)
- \(A\) — atrial fibrillation (1 if yes, 0 if no)
- \(L\) — left ventricular hypertrophy (1 if yes, 0 if no)
The total score is capped at 10 and converted into a 10-year stroke probability using separate tables for men and women, derived from the Framingham Heart Study cohort. In this calculator the SBP contribution is taken from the Untreated SBP scale for men and the Treated SBP scale for women.
Framingham Stroke Risk – Calculation Example
Example: a 61-year-old man with no antihypertensive treatment, systolic blood pressure of 130 mmHg, no diabetes, non-smoker, no cardiovascular disease, no atrial fibrillation and no left ventricular hypertrophy.
\[ \text{Score} = \underbrace{2}_{\text{age 60–62}} + \underbrace{3}_{\text{SBP 126–135}} + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 5 \]
Result: a score of 5 gives a 10-year stroke probability of 8%.
As a second case, a 70-year-old woman treated for hypertension (SBP 132 mmHg) with diabetes scores \(5 + 5 + 1 = 11\), which is capped at 10, giving a probability of 32%.
How to use the calculator
- Select the Gender — Men or Women. Separate risk tables are used for each.
- Choose the Age group that contains the patient's age (from 54–56 up to 85 and above).
- Select the Untreated SBP group matching the systolic blood pressure in mmHg.
- Select the Treated SBP group as well — this scale applies when blood pressure is being treated with medication.
- Answer Diabetes, Smoking, Cardiovascular disease, Atrial fibrillation and Left ventricular hypertrophy with Yes or No.
- Read the 10-year stroke probability shown as a percentage. The higher the score, the higher the estimated risk.
What is the Framingham Stroke Risk Score?
The Framingham Stroke Risk Score is a clinical prediction tool developed from the Framingham Heart Study, the long-running cohort study that has shaped much of what we know about cardiovascular disease. Based on more than a decade of follow-up data, researchers identified the factors that best predict who will suffer a stroke within the next 10 years and translated them into a practical point system that physicians can apply at the bedside without laboratory tests.
The model includes the strongest independent stroke predictors: advancing age, elevated systolic blood pressure, diabetes, cigarette smoking, prior cardiovascular disease (such as myocardial infarction, angina or heart failure), atrial fibrillation, and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) — a thickening of the heart's main pumping chamber usually detected on an electrocardiogram or echocardiogram. Because stroke risk differs substantially between men and women, the score is calculated and interpreted separately for each sex.
Interpreting the result is straightforward: the output is the estimated probability of experiencing a stroke within the next 10 years. A probability below about 10% is generally considered low-to-moderate risk, while values above 20% indicate high risk that usually warrants aggressive preventive management. Keep in mind that these thresholds are guidelines — a clinical decision should always weigh the individual patient's full picture, including cholesterol, kidney function, family history and physical activity.
Since systolic blood pressure is the single most modifiable factor in the score, tracking it closely pays off — see our Mean Arterial Pressure calculator for a related way to characterize blood pressure. If you also want your general risk of heart attack and cardiac death, use the Framingham Heart Disease Risk calculator, and if atrial fibrillation is present, the CHA₂DS₂-VASc Score helps evaluate the need for anticoagulation to prevent stroke.
Score to probability reference table
The table below shows how the total score translates into a 10-year stroke probability for each gender. Scores above 10 are treated as 10.
| Score | Men (10-year risk) | Women (10-year risk) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1% | 1% |
| 1 | 2% | 2% |
| 2 | 3% | 4% |
| 3 | 4% | 6% |
| 4 | 6% | 8% |
| 5 | 8% | 10% |
| 6 | 10% | 13% |
| 7 | 13% | 17% |
| 8 | 16% | 21% |
| 9 | 20% | 26% |
| 10 or more | 25% | 32% |
Assumptions, limitations and practical tips
- Simplified point version. The original Framingham stroke profile uses a Cox proportional-hazards regression with continuous risk factors. This calculator implements a simplified point-score adaptation; small differences from the full model are possible.
- SBP scales. In the full Framingham model the choice between the treated and untreated blood-pressure categories depends on whether the patient takes antihypertensive medication. In this implementation the untreated scale is applied for men and the treated scale for women, so enter both SBP groups to cover both scales.
- Age range. The score was derived for people aged 54 and older. It should not be applied to younger adults, in whom the baseline stroke risk is very low.
- Population validity. The original cohort was predominantly white and middle-aged or older, so the score may over- or under-estimate risk in other populations. Validate against local data where available.
- Missing factors. The score does not include cholesterol, body mass index, diet, physical activity, alcohol intake or family history — additional factors your doctor will consider.
- Not a diagnosis. A high score is a reason to discuss prevention with a healthcare professional — blood pressure control, smoking cessation, diabetes management, anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation and statin therapy can all substantially reduce stroke risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my Framingham stroke risk by hand?
Add the points for your age group, points for your systolic blood pressure group, and 1 point each for diabetes, smoking, cardiovascular disease, atrial fibrillation and left ventricular hypertrophy. Cap the total at 10, then look up the corresponding probability in the gender-specific table. For example, a score of 7 means 13% for men and 17% for women.
What is a normal or good score on this calculator?
A score of 3 or less, corresponding to roughly a 4–6% ten-year stroke probability, is generally considered low risk. Scores of 4–6 indicate moderate risk, while 7 or more (13% and above) is high risk that deserves a conversation with your doctor about prevention. These thresholds are guidelines, not strict cutoffs.
Why are there two different systolic blood pressure scales?
The Framingham model uses separate SBP categories because the same blood pressure reading carries different risk depending on whether it is controlled with antihypertensive medication. In this calculator the untreated scale applies to men and the treated scale to women, so fill in the group matching your reading on the scale that corresponds to your gender.
Can I use this stroke risk score if I'm under 54?
No. The Framingham Stroke Risk Score was derived in people aged 54 and older, and baseline stroke risk in younger adults is far too low for the point tables to produce meaningful results. If you are younger and worried about stroke because of family history or other conditions, discuss your individual risk factors with a healthcare professional instead.
What is left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and how do I know if I have it?
LVH is a thickening of the heart's main pumping chamber, usually caused by long-standing high blood pressure. It produces no symptoms on its own and is typically found on an electrocardiogram (ECG) or echocardiogram. If you have never had either test, answer "No" — do not guess, because wrongly adding the point will overstate your risk.
Why does my score differ from my doctor's estimate?
The score is a simplified point adaptation of the original Cox regression model, so small differences from the full Framingham profile are expected. Your doctor may also use newer risk calculators, additional factors such as cholesterol, kidney function or BMI, and local population data. Treat this result as an estimate for discussion, not a definitive diagnosis.
How can I lower my Framingham stroke risk score?
Most points are driven by modifiable factors: quitting smoking removes 1 point, and controlling systolic blood pressure can move you down several SBP categories. Effective management of diabetes and atrial fibrillation (often with anticoagulation) also reduces actual stroke risk even where the points stay. Always make treatment changes with medical guidance rather than on your own.