Your heart might be ageing faster than you are—and now, there’s a way to find out.
A new study published in JAMA Cardiology reveals that many adults, particularly in the U.S., have a “heart age” that is significantly older than their actual age. In response, researchers from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine have developed a free online tool called the PREVENT Risk Age Calculator to help people assess their cardiovascular health.
What Is Heart Age?
Heart age is a simplified way to understand your risk of heart disease. Instead of presenting your chances of a heart attack or stroke as a percentage, the tool translates it into an age—making it easier to compare with your actual years.
The calculator takes into account factors such as:
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol levels
- Body mass index (BMI)
- Diabetes status
- Smoking habits
- Current medications
According to lead researcher Dr. Sadiya Khan, this approach helps patients and doctors have more meaningful conversations about heart health. “It translates complex information into something people can relate to—their age,” she explained.
What the Data Showed
To test the tool, researchers analyzed health data from over 14,000 Americans aged 30 to 79, all of whom had no prior history of cardiovascular disease. The results showed a noticeable gap between heart age and chronological age, especially in men.
- Women had an average heart age of 55.4, while their actual age averaged 51.3—a gap of about 4 years.
- Men had an average heart age of 56.7, compared to a chronological age of 49.7—a gap of 7 years.
Dr. Khan noted that while a one- or two-year difference may not be cause for concern, a gap of five years or more should raise a red flag.
Why It Matters
This tool isn’t just about numbers. It’s designed to spark better conversations between patients and healthcare providers, potentially leading to earlier and more effective intervention.
Heart age can be a wake-up call, encouraging lifestyle changes like improved diet, more exercise, or quitting smoking. It can also help doctors determine whether a patient might benefit from preventive treatments, such as blood pressure or cholesterol medications.
A Few Limitations
The researchers acknowledge that how “optimal risk” is defined can affect the heart age calculation. They also point out that health comparisons based on national averages may not always reflect ideal health conditions, especially in populations where heart health is already compromised.
Still, they believe the PREVENT Risk Age Calculator offers a practical, user-friendly way to assess heart disease risk—and that its simplicity could help more people understand and act on their cardiovascular health.
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