Why Do We Need to Know So Many Things to Work Out Your Heart Health Score?

Created by Louis Matthews-Ratner, Modified on Tue, 20 May at 5:16 PM by Louis Matthews-Ratner

When you use the PocDoc Healthy Heart Check or talk to your GP about your heart health, you might wonder: why do we need to know so much about you just to calculate your heart health? Isn’t cholesterol enough? Let’s break down why each piece of information matters - and how it helps us give you the most accurate, personalised result possible.

What Is a QRISK®3 Score and Why Does It Matter?

QRISK®3 is a tool used by the NHS and clinicians across the UK to estimate your risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) over the next 10 years. It’s not just a number; it’s a way to help you and your healthcare team make informed decisions about prevention, lifestyle changes, and, if needed, medication.

Why So Many Questions?

Cardiovascular disease isn’t caused by a single factor. It’s the result of a combination of things - some you can change, some you can’t. The QRISK®3 calculator uses a wide range of factors to build the most accurate picture of your risk.

Here’s why each area matters:

Age & Sex: Risk increases as we get older, and men and women have different risk profiles

Ethnicity & Postcode: Where you live and your ethnic background can affect your risk. For example, some communities have higher rates of heart disease, and the postcode helps account for socioeconomic factors using the Townsend Scorei

Family History: If a close relative had heart disease at a young age, your risk is higher

Smoking Status: Smoking damages blood vessels and raises risk significantly

Diabetes, Kidney Disease, and Other Conditions: These medical conditions directly increase your risk of CVD

Blood Pressure & Treatment: Both your current blood pressure and whether you’re on treatment matter, as medication is a marker for underlying risk

Cholesterol Levels: It’s not just your total cholesterol, but the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL (“good” cholesterol) that gives the best prediction

BMIii, Height & Weight: Being overweight or obese increases your risk, so these measurements help us understand your overall health

Other Factors: Conditions like migraines, rheumatoid arthritis, severe mental illness, and certain medications can all play a role in CVD

Why Can’t We Just Guess or Use Averages?

If you leave out information, the QRISK®3 calculator will substitute population average values for someone of your age and sex. However, this can make your result less accurate and just a guide. different parts of the country, may have very different risks.

What Does This Mean for You?

By gathering all these details, we can:

Give you a risk score that’s truly personal - not just a generic average

Spot people who might otherwise be missed by simpler checks

Empower you with knowledge about what you can change (like quitting smoking or improving your cholesterol) and what you can’t (like your age or family history)

Help you and your healthcare team make the best decisions together about prevention and treatment

In Summary

Every question in the QRISK®3 assessment is there for a reason: to make sure you get the most accurate assessment of your cardiovascular risk. Cardiovascular disease is complex, but with tools like QRISK®3 - and digital innovations like PocDoc’s at home Healthy Heart Check - we can make prevention personal, accessible, and effective for everyone.

If you’re ever unsure why we ask for a particular detail, just ask! We’re here to help you better understand your heart health. For technical queries about the PocDoc Healthy Heart Check e-mail us at support@mypocdoc.com

As a healthcare technology company, we are unable to provide individual medical advice, so for queries relating to your health, please contact your GP or other healthcare provider.