New PREVENT Equations Revolutionize Heart Disease Risk Assessment and Personalized Care

The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology have released a groundbreaking scientific statement endorsing the PREVENT™ equations as a superior tool for cardiovascular disease risk assessment in adults with high blood pressure. Published in Circulation, Hypertension, and JACC, this companion document to the 2025 AHA/ACC High Blood Pressure Guideline recommends using the PREVENT™ calculator to estimate 10- and 30-year cardiovascular disease risk, including atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and heart failure. Developed in 2023 and built on data from over 6 million diverse U.S. adults, the PREVENT™ equations incorporate clinical factors like BMI, blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease, metabolic health, and social determinants through a zip code-based social deprivation index, offering more comprehensive and accurate risk predictions than previous models.

Key highlights from the scientific statement include the establishment of a new PREVENT™-CVD risk threshold of ≥7.5% for initiating blood pressure medication alongside lifestyle changes in stage 1 hypertension patients. The statement addresses concerns about treatment recommendations by demonstrating that the number of people advised to start antihypertensive therapy remains similar to the 2017 guidelines, while the enhanced accuracy of PREVENT™ helps identify those most likely to benefit and avoid unnecessary medication in lower-risk individuals. Dr. Daniel W. Jones, chair of the guideline writing committee, emphasized that the PREVENT equations are based on more modern datasets and provide stronger, more personalized care predictions. Dr. Sadiya S. Khan, chair of the statement writing group, noted that PREVENT is the first risk tool to combine cardiovascular, kidney, and metabolic health measurements, aiming to support primary prevention and help patients achieve longer, healthier lives.

Practical guidance on integrating the PREVENT™ equations into holistic risk assessment is provided, along with additional resources available through the American Heart Association's guidelines hub and multimedia links. The Association, funded primarily by non-corporate sources, ensures the integrity of its scientific content, with the statement prepared by a volunteer writing group. This advancement represents a significant step forward in personalized medicine, leveraging extensive data and contemporary science to refine cardiovascular risk management and improve patient outcomes through tailored preventive care strategies.