A risk assessment is a clinical evaluation where your healthcare provider predicts the likelihood of specific health outcomes or complications that might affect you. These assessments use your medical history, current health, and test results to estimate your risk for developing certain conditions.

These assessments help guide treatment decisions, preventive care recommendations, and care planning that are specifically tailored to your individual health situation.

Note: Only your healthcare providers can create or update risk assessments to ensure they're based on clinical expertise and properly integrated with your care plan.

 

Why Risk Assessments Matter

Risk assessments provide important benefits for your healthcare:

  • Help your healthcare team understand your specific risk factors
  • Provide scientific basis for treatment recommendations
  • Identify potential health problems before they occur
  • Help determine which health issues need immediate attention
  • Provide specific strategies to reduce your health risks
  • Track how your risk levels change over time with treatment

 

What's in Your Risk Assessment

Basic assessment information:

  • Assessment status (final, preliminary, cancelled)
  • When the risk evaluation was performed
  • The specific condition being evaluated for risk
  • Strategies to reduce identified risks
  • Where the assessment was performed

Risk predictions:

  • Specific health events or complications that might occur
  • How likely each outcome is (percentages or ranges)
  • Risk described as "low," "moderate," or "high"
  • When predicted outcomes might occur
  • Explanation of why these predictions were made

Supporting evidence:

  • Medical conditions that contribute to your risk
  • Test results and measurements used in the evaluation
  • Personal and family factors that influence risk
  • Additional notes and clinical context

 

Understanding Your Risk Levels

How risk is expressed:

  • Percentages: Exact likelihood (e.g., "15% chance of heart attack in 10 years")
  • Ranges: Risk expressed as a range (e.g., "10-20% chance")
  • Descriptive terms: "Low risk" (usually <10%), "moderate risk" (10-20%), "high risk" (>20%)
  • Relative risk: How your risk compares to others (e.g., "2x higher than average")

Timeframes:

  • Short-term: Outcomes likely within days, weeks, or months
  • Medium-term: Outcomes that might occur within 1-5 years
  • Long-term: Outcomes that might develop over 5+ years
  • Lifetime risk: Probability at any point in your lifetime

Common types of risk assessments:

  • Heart attack and stroke risk
  • Cancer risk (hereditary or screening-based)
  • Surgical and procedure complications
  • Medication side effects and interactions
  • Fall risk and fracture risk
  • Disease progression and complications

 

How to Use Your Risk Assessment


Understanding your risks:

  • Review the specific outcomes and their probabilities
  • Understand when risks are highest
  • Note the conditions and factors contributing to your risk
  • Read the explanation of why these predictions were made

Making informed decisions:

  • Use risk information to understand treatment recommendations
  • Consider risk-benefit ratios when making treatment choices
  • Ask about ways to modify or reduce identified risks
  • Discuss how different options might affect your risk levels

Reducing your risks:

  • Follow the specific risk reduction strategies in your assessment
  • Focus on risk factors you can control (lifestyle, medications)
  • Schedule appropriate follow-up appointments and screenings
  • Report changes in your health that might affect your risks

 

Questions to Ask About Your Risk Assessment

About your risk levels:

  • "What does this risk percentage mean for me personally?"
  • "How does my risk compare to others my age?"
  • "Which risk factors are most important to address?"
  • "What could cause my risk levels to change?"

About reducing your risks:

  • "What can I do to reduce my risk?"
  • "How much could these changes lower my risk?"
  • "What lifestyle changes would have the biggest impact?"
  • "Are there medications that could help reduce my risk?"

About monitoring and follow-up:

  • "When is my risk highest?"
  • "How often should this assessment be updated?"
  • "What symptoms should I watch for?"
  • "What tests or screenings do I need based on my risk?"

Your risk assessments help you understand and manage your health. Use them to make informed decisions and work with your healthcare team to reduce your risks.