A collaborative research effort, led by the University of Oxford and published in Nature Medicine, introduces a new predictive tool called QR4, which accurately forecasts an individual’s 10-year risk of cardiovascular diseases. QR4 incorporates seven new risk factors, including conditions like COPD, learning disabilities, Down syndrome, and certain cancers, providing a more comprehensive assessment than traditional methods.
By integrating these factors, QR4 allows for personalized and inclusive preventative strategies, addressing inequalities in health and catering to diverse populations. Moreover, QR4 identifies unique risk factors common to all genders and specific to women’s health, such as pre-eclampsia and postnatal depression, enabling early interventions. Rigorously tested against established cardiovascular risk assessment tools, QR4 outperforms existing calculators, including QRISK3. The development of QR4 represents a significant advancement in cardiovascular risk assessment, with potential implications for national health guidelines and clinical practice.