About ESC SCORE

The Systematic COronary Risk Evaluation (ESC SCORE) is a risk assessment algorithm developed by the European Society of Cardiology to estimate the 10-year risk of fatal cardiovascular disease in apparently healthy individuals.

Purpose and Use

ESC SCORE is used in primary prevention to identify individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease who may benefit from intensive risk factor management, including lifestyle changes and possibly medication.

Risk Factors Considered

• Age: Risk increases with age
• Gender: Men generally have higher risk than women of the same age
• Smoking Status: Current smoking significantly increases risk
• Systolic Blood Pressure: Higher blood pressure increases risk
• Lipid Levels: Total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol ratio
• Geographical Region: Based on country-specific cardiovascular mortality rates

Risk Categories

• Low Risk: <1% – Generally favorable risk profile
• Moderate Risk: 1-4% – May benefit from lifestyle interventions
• High Risk: 5-9% – Likely to benefit from risk factor management
• Very High Risk: ≥10% – Strong consideration for intensive intervention

Limitations

ESC SCORE should not be used for patients with established cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or very high individual risk factor levels. These patients are automatically considered at high or very high risk.