FFC launches cardiovascular risk assessment tool

The French Federation of Cardiology (FFC) recently put online a test allowing everyone to assess their own cardiovascular risks. A way of reminding us that smoking is one of the major causes of cardiovascular diseases and accidents.

Raising awareness of cardiovascular risks linked to our lifestyle and our risk factors and knowing our own risks, these are the two axes of the test launched in recent days by the French Federation of Cardiology (FFC). The test is available online and allows us to personally assess, quantitatively or qualitatively, the cardiovascular risks to which we are exposed[1]. It also highlights aspects of our lifestyle that need to be changed in order to reduce these risks.

The launch of this test comes in the midst of a national awareness campaign on cardiovascular risks, also broadcast by the FFC on television and on social networks.[2]. 5 20-second films are broadcast, depicting physical activity, diet, smoking, stress and screening, and invite us to question our behaviors.

A personalized test, with immediate results

The test proposed by the FFC integrates the profile of people (age, sex, weight, height, heredity), but also lifestyle (tobacco, alcohol, diet, physical exercise, stress) and individual risk factors (high blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, sleep apnea syndrome).

When the user knows his blood pressure and cholesterol level, a numerical assessment of the percentage of risk can be delivered immediately. Varying one of these pieces of information also makes it possible to visualize the benefits that could be obtained. In the absence of this data, a qualitative assessment of these risks (low to high risk) is provided. If the presence of risks is noted, the user is invited to consult his doctor or a cardiologist. However, this test is not intended for people who have already had a cardiovascular accident.

The leading cause of death among women and those over 65, cardiovascular diseases cause 400 deaths every day. 80% of these deaths could be avoided through simple screening measures, which this test aims to help achieve.

Tobacco, a major factor in cardiovascular diseases

If cancers are at the top of the list of pathologies caused by smoking, cardiovascular pathologies are just after, ahead of respiratory disorders, but these risks are less well known. known of the public. However, smoking triples the risks cardiovascular diseases, and five times more likely to cause a myocardial infarction. However, studies show that quitting smoking significantly reduces cardiovascular risks at all ages.

MF