After the consultation, Isla’s healthcare provider conducts a health check and uses the ASSIGN calculator to figure out what Isla’s risk for developing cardiovascular disease over the next ten years is. The healthcare provider explains that once the results are back, they will review them together and talk about what they mean.
What is ASSIGN?
- ASSIGN is a risk assessment tool for individuals without a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease.
- The ASSIGN score helps estimate an individual’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease and identify who is at risk for having a stroke or heart attack.
- It is a way to calculate someone’s 10-year risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
- Developed in 2006 at University of Dundee, Scotland by professors, Hugh Tunstall-Pedoe and Mark Woodward, and Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network group on cardiovascular risk estimation
- Cardiovascular risk score that was chosen by Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network and Scottish Government Health Directorates
- An ASSIGN score over 20 is currently considered high risk for developing cardiovascular disease
To learn more about ASSIGN, please visit About – ASSIGN Score – prioritising prevention of cardiovascular disease (assign-score.com)
- To calculate ASSIGN Score, please visit Estimate the risk – ASSIGN Score – prioritising prevention of cardiovascular disease (assign-score.com)
Disclaimer: There may be more or less tests and examinations done than listed above based on the findings and/or a healthcare professionals’ discretion.
Disclaimer: Q-RISK is the cardiovascular risk assessment tool in England
- To learn more about Q-Risk, click here.
What else should be included in Islas health check:
- Lifestyle questions
- What are Isla’s smoking habits, amount of physical activity she does, alcohol consumption, diet?
- Medical history questions
- What are Isla’s current and past health conditions?
- Including conditions such as:
- Migraines with aura
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Severe mental illness (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, moderate/severe depression)
- Chronic kidney disease
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- Has she had any surgeries and what they were?
- Is she taking any prescription medications? If so, what are they and what are they for?
- Family history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) questions
- Were Isla’s siblings or parents diagnosed with cardiovascular disease before the age of 60?
Tests and Examinations
- Cholesterol levels checked
- This is done through a complete cholesterol test or lipid profile/panel which is a blood test that measures the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
- It can help find out if someone has high cholesterol.
- This is done through a complete cholesterol test or lipid profile/panel which is a blood test that measures the amount of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.
- Blood sugar levels checked
- This is done through a glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test which is a blood test to measure the average blood sugar levels over the past 2 to 3 months.
- It can help find out if someone is prediabetic, has diabetes, or how someone is managing their diabetes.
- This is done through a glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test which is a blood test to measure the average blood sugar levels over the past 2 to 3 months.
- Blood pressure measured
- This is measured using a device called a blood pressure monitor and it helps to identify if someone has high blood pressure (hypertension).
- This is measured using a device called a blood pressure monitor and it helps to identify if someone has high blood pressure (hypertension).
- Body mass index (BMI) calculated
- This is done by taking height and weight measurements that and can help helps to determine if someone is overweight or obese.
