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New Heart Disease Calculator Predicts 30-Year Risk for Young Adults
17 Nov
Summary
- New online calculator predicts 30-year heart disease risk for young adults
- Factors like high blood pressure, diabetes can start impacting heart health decades earlier
- Men have higher long-term heart disease risk compared to women of the same age
On November 17, 2025, a groundbreaking new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology revealed a heart disease calculator that can predict a person's 30-year risk, a significantly longer timeframe than traditional 10-year screenings.
The research team, led by Sadiya Khan from Northwestern University, analyzed data from over 8,700 U.S. adults between 2011 and 2020. They found that the factors leading to heart problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, can begin impacting health as early as childhood, often decades before the average age of heart disease diagnosis.
The new online tool allows younger adults, typically in their 40s, to input common health markers and see their risk percentile compared to their peers. Experts say this user-friendly approach is more effective than simply stating a numerical risk percentage. The data shows men have a higher long-term heart disease risk than women of the same age.
Cardiologists emphasize the importance of young people taking proactive steps to protect their heart health, rather than waiting until they are older. Just as saving for retirement early provides long-term benefits, small lifestyle changes now can yield significant cardiovascular rewards down the line.
