Hypertension is the most important modifiable risk factor for coronary heart disease (the leading cause of death in North America), stroke (the third leading cause), congestive heart failure, end-stage renal disease, and peripheral vascular disease.
The results of a survey or a cross-sectional study can also be used to estimate the relative risk. Kuzma uses the data from a community health survey of retirees to study the relationship between smoking and heart disease. The data are given in the table. Does the retiree have heart disease? (Is the disease present?) YES NO Total
A risk assessments can be quantitative or a qualitative. In a quantitative risk assessment, the CRO assigns numerical values to the probability an event will occur and the impact it will have. These numerical values can then be used to calculate an event's risk factor, which in turn can be mapped to dollar amounts.