Background: Individuals with kidney diseases have increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death. Online cardiovascular risk assessment tools can educate patients on risks and modifiable factors. Since patients have variable health literacy, we evaluated the readability, understandability and actionability of publicly available online cardiovascular risk assessment tools. Methods: We systematically searched, reviewed, characterized and assessed English-language cardiovascular risk assessment tools online for readability (Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) score), understandability and actionability (Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for printable materials (PEMAT-P)). Results: After screening 969 websites, 69 websites employing 76 risk tools were included. The most frequently used tools were the Framingham risk score (n= 13) and the Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease score (n= 12), Most tools were intended for the general population and estimated the 10-year incident cardiovascular risk. Patient education was provided as targets for blood pressure (n= 17), lipids (n= 15), or glucose (n= 5); and advice regarding diet (n= 18), exercise (n= 19), and smoking cessation (n= 20). The median FKGL, PEMAT- understandability and actionability scores were 6.2 (4.7, 8.5), 84.6% (76.9%, 89.2%) and 60% (40%, 60%), respectively. Conclusion: The online cardiovascular risk tools were generally easy to read and understand, but only a third provided education on risk modification. Judicious selection of an online cardiovascular risk assessment tool may help patients in self-management.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.