Framingham Assessment Tool

Framingham Assessment Tool

Introduction

Framingham assessment tool is considered as a very common approach that is used for the assessment of cardiovascular risk in an individual. There are a number of studies that have focused on the importance of Framingham assessment tool in the clinical settings (Barrett, et al, 2012). It has been described that Framingham risk score is used in the hospital settings to evaluate the risk of any cardiovascular condition in the patient.

Framingham heart study is an ongoing research work that is used for the assessment and evaluation of cardiovascular disease. Framingham heart study was initiated in 1948, and now third generation is participating in this study (Barroso et al, 2010). Framingham heart study was applied on the Canadian population numerous times. The purpose for the application was to detect the presence and risk of heart diseases (Coke, 2010). Therefore, it can be said that the reason behind the selection of this assessment tool is to know about the risk of cardiovascular diseases in the population.

Description of Framingham Tool

The purpose of the Framingham assessment tool is to evaluate the 10 years risk of any cardiovascular disease. This assessment tool is dependent upon age, gender, cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, smoking, systolic blood pressure, and use of any anti-hypertensive medication (Coke, 2010). This risk assessment tool measures the 10 years danger of any cardiovascular problem that can include cardiomyopathy, stroke, and coronary artery diseases. Indications for the use of Framingham assessment tool can include unusual events related to heart, hypertension, and increased level of cholesterol (Jorstad et al, 2013). It is a very simple test, and can require 10 to 15 minutes, in the case of provided information about cholesterol and HDL cholesterol, for the assessment of cardiovascular risk. Most of the versions are present over websites for the assessment. A clinical nurse should know about the normal levels of cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and measurement technicalities of the cardiovascular risk (Diaz et al, 2009). Smoking population or individuals having abnormal cardiac health should use this tool for the risk assessment.

Framingham Tool Critique

Framingham heart study was initiated in the year 1948, and it took 5209 adults as their subjects from Framingham. It is also a fact that third generation of the initial participants is being evaluated by the investigators. Thomas Royle Dawber is considered as the director for the conduction of study (Josee Zamorano et al, 2011). He worked for this study from 1949 to 1966. By the year 1968, the investigators decided to progress with the study; however, United States of America was surrounded from protests, struggle for civil rights, assassinations, and Vietnam War. At that time, a committee was formed and it revealed that this study will continue its investigations for 20 more years.

For this purpose, the study enrolled a number of people to gather information about the heart diseases (Kengne, Turnbull & MacMahon, 2010). By the year 1971, the study decided to continue the study and it enrolled the second generation of the initial participants. In the year 2002, ...