Definition

In medicine, a tool used to estimate a person’s risk of developing a certain condition or disease, such as cancer. Risk models may also be used to estimate a person’s risk of carrying a certain gene change or of having a child with a certain condition. Risk models use computer programs and statistics to estimate risk based on information about a person that may include their age, sex, personal and family medical history, ethnic background, lifestyle, and other factors. There are many types of risk models, and each model looks at different factors that increase risk in different groups of people.