Risk factor

Environmental, behavioral, or biologic factor that increases the likelihood of developing disease; identified through longitudinal studies and confirmed to be present before the onset of disease, i.e., smoking, diabetes, pathogenic bacteria.

A habit, trait, condition, or genetic alteration that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease.

A circumstance or condition that increases one’s chances of developing a disease.

A factor that can be measured to indicate the statistical or epidemiological probability of an adverse condition, effect or disease. Does not imply that it is a causative factor, nor that reversing the risk factor will reduce the hazard.

A characteristic that increases a person’s likelihood of getting a particular disease.

An environmental, chemical, psychological, physiological, or genetic element that predisposes an individual to the development of a disease. For example, risk factors for coronary artery disease include hypertension, high circulating blood lipids and cholesterol, obesity, cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, physical inactivity, microalbuminuria, chronic kidney disease, and an early family history of atherosclerosis.

Factors known to be related to disease but cannot be proven to be the actual cause.

Factors that increase the risk of heart, brain, kidney, eye, and vascular damage (associated with hypertension).

Any activity or genetic trait that makes a person more susceptible or more likely to be exposed to infection, injury, disability, etc.

Those characteristics or habits that increase the likelihood that a person will develop a certain disease or condition, as smoking is a risk factor for cancer. In relation to pregnancy, a woman who has one or more risk factors is said to have a high-risk pregnancy, or to be at risk of developing complications. Similarly, a child from a family with a history of child abuse and neglect may be termed at risk or a high-risk child.

Factors in the individual’s genetic and physical makeup, life-style and behavior, and environment which are known (or thought) to increase the likelihood of physical or mental problems. Risk factors are typically specific for given kinds of problems. For example, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and smoking are all considered risk factors for coronary artery disease (blood vessel disease in the heart), while several of these are also related to cerebrovascular disease (blood vessel disease in the brain). Risk factors for poisoning of children are such things as failure to properly store drugs and household chemicals. There are also risk factors which contribute to getting a risk factor: for example, people who live sedentary lives are more likely to have high blood pressure than those who are physically active.

Influences that contribute to a person’s likelihood of developing a particular disease or condition. For example, heredity and being overweight are two important risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Risk factors such as alcohol use, drug consumption, smoking, and poor diet can adversely affect pregnancy. Some risk factors (such as genes) are beyond a person’s control. However, doctors advice people to manage other significant risk factors, such as lifestyle choices about diet, exercise, smoking, drinking, and sexual activity.

An environmental or genetic factor which makes the occurrence of a disease in an individual more likely. For example, male sex, obesity, smoking and high blood pressure (hypertension) are all risk factors for ischaemic heart disease.

Risk factors are the conditions, situations, and behaviors that increase the likelihood that an undesirable outcome (injury, illness, or death) will occur.

Something that may increase the chance of developing a disease.

Any action or condition that increases the likelihood of injury, disease, or other negative outcome.

A particular disease has been linked to a pre-existing condition or health behavior. Examples of such conditions include insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, physical inactivity, stress, cigarette smoking, and others.