Non-modifiable risk factors

The following are all non-modifiable risk factors:

• Age:

  Simply getting old is a risk factor.

• Sex:

  Gender is significant. A man is at greater risk of heart disease than a pre-menopausal woman, but once past the menopause, a woman’s risk is similar to a man”s. The risk of stroke is similar for men and women.

• Family history:

  The risk of developing heart disease increases if an individual has a relative who developed heart disease or stroke at an early age (before 60 years old). If your parents developed cardiovascular disease later in life, it may be age-related rather than genetic.

• Socio-economic status:

  Living in a deprived area increases cardiovascular risk. There remains debate as to how long this risk stays with an individual if they move out of a deprived area into a more affluent area.

• Black Minority Ethnic (BME):

  Ethnic origin plays a role. People with African or Asian ancestry are at higher risks of developing cardiovascular disease than other racial groups.