US2002082906A1PendingUtilityA1

Computerized interactive method and system for determining a risk of developing a disease and the consequences of developing the disease

Priority: Mar 27, 2000Filed: Oct 9, 2001Published: Jun 27, 2002
Est. expiryMar 27, 2020(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Ronald Kirshner
Y10S128/92Y10S128/904G16H 50/30G16H 70/60G16H 10/60G16H 15/00A61B 5/0002A61B 5/7275G16H 10/20
19
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
0
References
0
Claims

Abstract

An interactive computerized method and system for determining the risk of developing a disease, consequences of the disease, providing ways of modifying the risk, and tracking the progress of an individual as his or her risk factors change or remain the same. The method includes: transmitting questions to the individual pertaining to risk factors for the disease via a processor; receiving responses to the questions from the individual via the processor; transmitting contemporaneous feedback to the responses via the processor; determining the risk of the individual developing the disease or the associated consequences of having the disease using at least one of the responses and practice guidelines for the disease; transmitting a summary of positive risk factors and risk modification information to the individual via the processor; and tracking changes in the responses and the positive risk factors of the individual over time. The system includes a processor executing a program that performs the method.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An interactive computerized method for determining the risk of an individual developing a disease and the consequences of developing the disease, comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting questions to a user pertaining to risk factors for the disease via a processor;    receiving responses to the questions from the user via the processor;    transmitting substantially contemporaneous feedback to the responses via the processor;    if the individual does not have the disease, determining the risk of the individual developing the disease using at least one of the responses and practice guidelines for the disease;    if the individual does have the disease, determining associated consequences of the disease using at least one of the responses and the practice guidelines for the disease;    transmitting a summary of positive risk factors and risk modification information to the user via the processor;    tracking changes in the responses and the positive risk factors for the individual over time.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the disease includes coronary artery disease.    
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the questions include questions about at least one of physical characteristics, lifestyle, and medical history.    
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the physical characteristics include age, gender, race, height and weight.    
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the lifestyle questions include questions about at least one of smoking habits, drinking habits, vitamin intake, and stress.    
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 the medical history questions include questions about at least one of blood pressure, diabetes, menopause, ovary removal, hormone replacement, CAD, heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular hypertophy, family history, lipid profile, stress tests, and angiograms.    
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 determining the risk factors for the disease using the practice guidelines.    
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the processor operates in one of a LAN environment, WAN environment, the WWW and the Internet.    
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the step of receiving the responses includes storing the responses in memory.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the memory includes at least one database.    
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the contemporaneous feedback includes at least one of general information about at least one risk factor, and whether the risk factor is positive for the individual.    
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the practice guidelines include practice guidelines published by at least one of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research, and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.    
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the associated consequences include at least one of invasive intervention and noninvasive intervention.    
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
 the invasive intervention includes at least one of surgery and angioplasty.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the noninvasive intervention includes at least one of pharmacological therapy and education.    
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the positive risk factors include being a male, being one of a postmenopausal female and a postmenopausal female with ovaries removed, being a male over 40 years of age, being a female over 45 years of age, having a BMI that indicates the user is overweight or obese, being a smoker, having diabetes mellitus, having elevated lipid levels, having known CAD, having known peripheral vascular disease, not exercising, having hypertension, having feelings of stress and anxiety, having left ventricular hypertophy, not taking anti-oxidant vitamins, having high homocysteine levels, not getting the RDA of folate, vitamin B6 or vitamin B12, having a high lipoprotein level, having a low alcohol intake, having a positive family history of coronary disease, and not taking one aspirin per day.    
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the risk factor modification information includes information about how to change the positive risk factors to negative risk factors.    
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the step of tracking includes advising the user when there has been one of a change and no change in a risk factor.    
     
     
         19 . An interactive computerized method for determining the risk of an individual developing a disease and the consequences of developing the disease, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving questions pertaining to risk factors for the disease via a processor;    transmitting responses to the questions from a user via the processor;    receiving substantially contemporaneous feedback to the responses via the processor, if the individual does not have the disease, the risk of the individual developing the disease being determined using at least one of the responses and practice guidelines for the disease, if the individual does have the disease, associated consequences of the disease being determined using at least one of the responses and the practice guidelines for the disease;    receiving a summary of positive risk factors and risk modification information via the processor; and    tracking changes in the responses and the positive risk factors for the individual over time.    
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the disease includes coronary artery disease.    
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the questions include questions about at least one of physical characteristics, lifestyle, and medical history.    
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the physical characteristics include age, gender, race, height and weight.    
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the lifestyle questions include questions about at least one of smoking habits, drinking habits, vitamin intake, and stress.    
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein: 
 the medical history questions include questions about at least one of blood pressure, diabetes, menopause, ovary removal, hormone replacement, CAD, heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular hypertophy, family history, lipid profile, stress tests, and angiograms.    
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the risk factors for the disease are determined using the practice guidelines.    
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the processor operates in one of a LAN environment, WAN environment, the WWW and the Internet.    
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the step of transmitting the responses includes storing the responses in memory.    
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , wherein: 
 the memory includes at least one database.    
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the contemporaneous feedback includes at least one of general information about at least one risk factor, and whether the risk factor is positive for the individual.    
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the practice guidelines include practice guidelines published by at least one of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research, and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.    
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the associated consequences include at least one of invasive intervention and noninvasive intervention.    
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein: 
 the invasive intervention includes at least one of surgery and angioplasty.    
     
     
         33 . The method according to  claim 31 , wherein: 
 the noninvasive intervention includes at least one of pharmacological therapy and education.    
     
     
         34 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the positive risk factors include being a male, being one of a postmenopausal female and a postmenopausal female with ovaries removed, being a male over 40 years of age, being a female over 45 years of age, having a BMI that indicates the user is overweight or obese, being a smoker, having diabetes mellitus, having elevated lipid levels, having known CAD, having known peripheral vascular disease, not exercising, having hypertension, having feelings of stress and anxiety, having left ventricular hypertophy, not taking anti-oxidant vitamins, having high homocysteine levels, not getting the RDA of folate, vitamin B6 or vitamin B12, having a high lipoprotein level, having a low alcohol intake, having a positive family history of coronary disease, and not taking one aspirin per day.    
     
     
         35 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the risk factor modification information includes information about how to change the positive risk factors to negative risk factors.    
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein: 
 the step of tracking includes receiving advice when there has been one of a change and no change in a risk factor.    
     
     
         37 . An interactive computerized system for determining the risk an individual developing a disease and the consequences of developing the disease, the system comprising: 
 a processor executing a program performing the steps of: 
 transmitting questions to a user pertaining to risk factors for the disease;  
 receiving responses to the questions from the user;  
 transmitting substantially contemporaneous feedback to the responses;  
 if the individual does not have the disease, determining the risk of the individual developing the disease using at least one of the responses and practice guidelines for the disease;  
 if the individual does have the disease, determining associated consequences of the disease using at least one of the responses and the practice guidelines for the disease;  
 transmitting a summary of positive risk factors and risk modification information to the individual via the processor;  
 tracking changes in the responses and the positive risk factors for the individual over time.  
   
     
     
         38 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein: 
 the disease includes coronary artery disease.    
     
     
         39 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein: 
 the questions include questions about at least one of physical characteristics, lifestyle, and medical history.    
     
     
         40 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein: 
 the physical characteristics include age, gender, race, height and weight.    
     
     
         41 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein: 
 the lifestyle questions include questions about at least one of smoking habits, drinking habits, vitamin intake, and stress.    
     
     
         42 . The system according to  claim 39 , wherein: 
 the medical history questions include questions about at least one of blood pressure, diabetes, menopause, ovary removal, hormone replacement, CAD, heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular hypertophy, family history, lipid profile, stress tests, and angiograms.    
     
     
         43 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein the program further performs the step of: 
 determining the risk factors for the disease using the practice guidelines.    
     
     
         44 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein: 
 the processor operates in one of a LAN environment, WAN environment, the WWW and the Internet.    
     
     
         45 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein: 
 the step of receiving the responses includes storing the responses in memory.    
     
     
         46 . The system according to  claim 45 , wherein: 
 the memory includes at least one database.    
     
     
         47 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein: 
 the contemporaneous feedback includes at least one of general information about at least one risk factor, and whether the risk factor is positive for the individual.    
     
     
         48 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein: 
 the practice guidelines include practice guidelines published by at least one of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research, and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.    
     
     
         49 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein: 
 the associated consequences include at least one of invasive intervention and noninvasive intervention.    
     
     
         50 . The system according to  claim 49 , wherein: 
 the invasive intervention includes at least one of surgery and angioplasty.    
     
     
         51 . The system according to  claim 49 , wherein: 
 the noninvasive intervention includes at least one of pharmacological therapy and education.    
     
     
         52 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein: 
 the positive risk factors include being a male, being one of a postmenopausal female and a postmenopausal female with ovaries removed, being a male over 40 years of age, being a female over 45 years of age, having a BMI that indicates the user is overweight or obese, being a smoker, having diabetes mellitus, having elevated lipid levels, having known CAD, having known peripheral vascular disease, not exercising, having hypertension, having feelings of stress and anxiety, having left ventricular hypertophy, not taking anti-oxidant vitamins, having high homocysteine levels, not getting the RDA of folate, vitamin B6 or vitamin B12, having a high lipoprotein level, having a low alcohol intake, having a positive family history of coronary disease, and not taking one aspirin per day.    
     
     
         53 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein: 
 the risk factor modification information includes information about how to change the positive risk factors to negative risk factors.    
     
     
         54 . The system according to  claim 37 , wherein: 
 the step of tracking includes advising the user when there has been one of a change and no change in a risk factor.    
     
     
         55 . An interactive computerized system for determining the risk an individual developing a disease and the consequences of developing the disease, the system comprising: 
 a processor executing a program performing the steps of: 
 receiving questions pertaining to risk factors for the disease;  
 transmitting responses to the questions from the user;  
 receiving substantially contemporaneous feedback to the responses, if the individual does not have the disease, the risk of the individual developing the disease being determined using at least one of the responses and practice guidelines for the disease, if the individual does have the disease, associated consequences of the disease being determined using at least one of the responses and the practice guidelines for the disease;  
 receiving a summary of positive risk factors and risk modification information to the individual via the processor;  
 tracking changes in the responses and the positive risk factors for the individual over time.  
   
     
     
         56 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein: 
 the disease includes coronary artery disease.    
     
     
         57 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein: 
 the questions include questions about at least one of physical characteristics, lifestyle, and medical history.    
     
     
         58 . The system according to  claim 57 , wherein: 
 the physical characteristics include age, gender, race, height and weight.    
     
     
         59 . The system according to  claim 57 , wherein: 
 the lifestyle questions include questions about at least one of smoking habits, drinking habits, vitamin intake, and stress.    
     
     
         60 . The system according to  claim 57 , wherein: 
 the medical history questions include questions about at least one of blood pressure, diabetes, menopause, ovary removal, hormone replacement, CAD, heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular hypertophy, family history, lipid profile, stress tests, and angiograms.    
     
     
         61 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein the program further performs the step of: 
 determining the risk factors for the disease using the practice guidelines.    
     
     
         62 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein: 
 the processor operates in one of a LAN environment, WAN environment, the WWW and the Internet.    
     
     
         63 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein: 
 the step of transmitting the responses includes storing the responses in memory.    
     
     
         64 . The system according to  claim 63 , wherein: 
 the memory includes at least one database.    
     
     
         65 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein: 
 the contemporaneous feedback includes at least one of general information about at least one risk factor, and whether the risk factor is positive for the individual.    
     
     
         66 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein: 
 the practice guidelines include practice guidelines published by at least one of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research, and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.    
     
     
         67 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein: 
 the associated consequences include at least one invasive intervention and noninvasive intervention.    
     
     
         68 . The system according to  claim 67 , wherein: 
 the invasive intervention includes at least one of surgery and angioplasty.    
     
     
         69 . The system according to  claim 67 , wherein: 
 the noninvasive intervention includes at least one of pharmacological therapy and education.    
     
     
         70 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein: 
 the positive risk factors include being a male, being one of a postmenopausal female and a postmenopausal female with ovaries removed, being a male over 40 years of age, being a female over 45 years of age, having a BMI that indicates the user is overweight or obese, being a smoker, having diabetes mellitus, having elevated lipid levels, having known CAD, having known peripheral vascular disease, not exercising, having hypertension, having feelings of stress and anxiety, having left ventricular hypertophy, not taking anti-oxidant vitamins, having high homocysteine levels, not getting the RDA of folate, vitamin B6 or vitamin B12, having a high lipoprotein level, having a low alcohol intake, having a positive family history of coronary disease, and not taking one aspirin per day.    
     
     
         71 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein: 
 the risk factor modification information includes information about how to change the positive risk factors to negative risk factors.    
     
     
         72 . The system according to  claim 55 , wherein: 
 the step of tracking includes receiving advice when there has been one of a change and no change in a risk factor.    
     
     
         73 . A method for providing information concerning a patient to a doctor, comprising the steps of: 
 interactively providing via a processor questions to a patient;    receiving via the processor responses to the questions;    storing information concerning the patient based on at least one of the responses;    receiving via the processor a request for the information concerning the patient by a doctor; and    providing the stored information to the doctor.    
     
     
         74 . The method according to  claim 73 , wherein: 
 the processor operates in at least one of a LAN environment, WAN environment, the WWW and the Internet.    
     
     
         75 . The method according to  claim 73 , wherein: 
 the questions include questions about at least one of physical characteristics, lifestyle and medical history.    
     
     
         76 . The method according to  claim 75 , wherein: 
 the physical characteristics include age, gender, race, height and weight.    
     
     
         77 . The method according to  claim 75 , wherein: 
 the lifestyle questions include questions about at least one of smoking habits, drinking habits, vitamin intake, and stress.    
     
     
         78 . The method according to  claim 75 , wherein: 
 the medical history questions include questions about at least one of blood pressure, diabetes, menopause, ovary removal, hormone replacement, CAD, heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular hypertophy, family history, lipid profile, stress tests, and angiograms.    
     
     
         79 . The method according to  claim 73 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining risk factors for a disease using at least one of at least one of the responses and practice guidelines for the disease; and    tracking changes in the responses and the risk factors over time.    
     
     
         80 . The method according to  claim 79 , wherein: 
 the practice guidelines include practice guidelines published by at least one of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research, and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.    
     
     
         81 . The method according to  claim 79 , wherein: 
 the disease is CAD.    
     
     
         82 . The method according to  claim 73 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing substantially contemporaneous feedback to the responses via the processor.    
     
     
         83 . The method according to  claim 82 , wherein: 
 the contemporaneous feedback includes at least one of general information about at least one risk factor and whether the at least one risk factor is positive for the patient.    
     
     
         84 . The method according to  claim 73 , wherein: 
 the information is stored in at least one database.    
     
     
         85 . The method according to  claim 73 , further comprising the step of: 
 using at least one of the responses and practice guidelines, determining one of a patient's risk of developing a disease and the associated risks of having the disease.    
     
     
         86 . A method for providing information concerning a patient to a doctor, comprising the steps of: 
 interactively receiving via a processor questions;    transmitting via the processor responses to the questions;    storing information concerning the patient based on at least one of the responses;    transmitting a request for the information concerning the patient by a doctor; and    providing the stored information to the doctor.    
     
     
         87 . The method according to  claim 86 , wherein: 
 the processor operates in at least one of a LAN environment, WAN environment, WAN environment, the WWW and the Internet.    
     
     
         88 . The method according to  claim 86 , wherein: 
 the questions include questions about at least one of physical characteristics, lifestyle and medical history.    
     
     
         89 . The method according to  claim 88 , wherein: 
 the physical characteristics include age, gender, race, height and weight.    
     
     
         90 . The method according to  claim 88 , wherein: 
 the lifestyle questions include questions about at least one of smoking habits, drinking habits, vitamin intake, and stress.    
     
     
         91 . The method according to  claim 88 , wherein: 
 the medical history questions include questions about at least one of blood pressure, diabetes, menopause, ovary removal, hormone replacement, CAD, heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular hypertophy, family history, lipid profile, stress tests, and angiograms.    
     
     
         92 . The method according to  claim 86 , wherein: 
 risk factors for a disease are determined using at least one of at least one of the responses and practice guidelines for the disease; and    changes in the responses and risk factors are tracked over time.    
     
     
         93 . The method according to  claim 92 , wherein: 
 the practice guidelines include practice guidelines published by at least one of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research, and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.    
     
     
         94 . The method according to  claim 92 , wherein: 
 the disease is CAD.    
     
     
         95 . The method according to  claim 86 , further comprising the step of: 
 receiving substantially contemporaneous feedback to the responses via the processor.    
     
     
         96 . The method according to  claim 96 , wherein: 
 the contemporaneous feedback includes at least one of general information about at least one risk factor and whether the at least one risk factor is positive for the patient.    
     
     
         97 . The method according to  claim 86 , wherein: 
 the information is stored in at least one database.    
     
     
         98 . The method according to  claim 86 , wherein: 
 one of a risk of developing a disease and the associated risks of having the disease is determined using at least one of the responses and practice guidelines.    
     
     
         99 . A method for providing information to a user, comprising the steps of: 
 interactively providing via a processor questions to a user; and    receiving via the processor responses to the questions, a summary of risk factors specific to an individual for a particular disease being determined based on at least one of the responses.    
     
     
         100 . The method according to  claim 99 , wherein: 
 the processor operates in at least one of a LAN environment, WAN environment, WAN environment, the WWW and the Internet.    
     
     
         101 . The method according to  claim 99 , wherein: 
 the questions include questions about at least one of physical characteristics, lifestyle and medical history.    
     
     
         102 . The method according to  claim 101 , wherein: 
 the physical characteristics include age, gender, race, height and weight.    
     
     
         103 . The method according to  claim 101 , wherein: 
 the lifestyle questions include questions about at least one of smoking habits, drinking habits, vitamin intake, and stress.    
     
     
         104 . The method according to  claim 101 , wherein: 
 the medical history questions include questions about at least one of blood pressure, diabetes, menopause, ovary removal, hormone replacement, CAD, heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular hypertophy, family history, lipid profile, stress tests, and angiograms.    
     
     
         105 . The method according to  claim 99 , wherein: 
 the step of receiving the responses includes storing the responses in memory.    
     
     
         106 . The method according to  claim 105 , wherein: 
 the memory includes at least one database.    
     
     
         107 . The method according to  claim 92 , further comprising the steps of: 
 determining the risk factors for the particular disease using practice guidelines; and    tracking changes in the responses and the risk factors over time.    
     
     
         108 . The method according to  claim 107 , wherein: 
 the practice guidelines include practice guidelines published by at lease one of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research, and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.    
     
     
         109 . The method according to  claim 99 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing substantially contemporaneous feedback to the responses via the processor.    
     
     
         110 . The method according to  claim 109 , wherein: 
 the substantially contemporaneous feedback includes at least one of general information about at least one of the risk factors and whether the at least one of the risk factors is positive for an individual.    
     
     
         111 . The method according to  claim 99 , wherein: 
 the particular disease is CAD.    
     
     
         112 . The method according to  claim 99 , further comprising the step of: 
 using at least one of responses and practice guidelines, determining one of a risk of developing a disease and associated risks of having the disease.    
     
     
         113 . A method for providing information to a user, comprising the steps of: 
 interactively receiving questions via processor; and    transmitting via the processor responses to the questions, a summary of risk factors specific to an individual for a particular disease being determined based on at least one of the responses.    
     
     
         114 . The method according to  claim 113 , wherein: 
 the processor operates in at least one of a LAN environment, WAN environment, WAN environment, the WWW and the Internet.    
     
     
         115 . The method according to  claim 113 , wherein: 
 the questions include questions about at least one of physical characteristics, lifestyle and medical history.    
     
     
         116 . The method according to  claim 115 , wherein: 
 the physical characteristics include age, gender, race, height and weight.    
     
     
         117 . The method according to  claim 115 , wherein: 
 the lifestyle questions include questions about at least one of smoking habits, drinking habits, vitamin intake, and stress.    
     
     
         118 . The method according to  claim 115 , wherein: 
 the medical history questions include questions about at least one of blood pressure, diabetes, menopause, ovary removal, hormone replacement, CAD, heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular hypertophy, family history, lipid profile, stress tests, and angiograms.    
     
     
         119 . The method according to  claim 113 , wherein: 
 the step of transmitting the responses includes storing the responses in memory.    
     
     
         120 . The method according to  claim 119 , wherein: 
 the memory includes at least one database.    
     
     
         121 . The method according to  claim 113 , wherein: 
 the risk factors for the particular disease being determined using practice guidelines.    
     
     
         122 . The method according to  claim 121 , wherein: 
 the practice guidelines include practice guidelines published by at least one of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research, and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.    
     
     
         123 . The method according to  claim 113 , further comprising the step of: 
 receiving substantially contemporaneous feedback to the responses via the processor.    
     
     
         124 . The method according to  claim 123 , wherein: 
 the substantially contemporaneous feedback includes at least one of general information about at least one risk factor and whether the at least one risk factor is positive for an individual.    
     
     
         125 . The method according to  claim 113 , wherein: 
 the particular disease is CAD.    
     
     
         126 . The method according to  claim 113 , further comprising the step of: 
 using at least one of the responses and practice guidelines to determine one of a risk of developing a disease and the associated consequences of having the disease.    
     
     
         127 . A method for providing information to a user, comprising the steps of: 
 interactively providing via a processor questions to a user;    receiving via the processor responses to the questions;    determining risk factors specific to an individual for a particular disease based on at least one of the responses;    if at least one of the risk factors is modifiable, providing information as to how to modify the at least one of the risk factors to decrease a risk of developing the particular disease.    
     
     
         128 . The method according to  claim 127 , wherein: 
 the processor operates in at least one of a LAN environment, WAN environment, WAN environment, the WWW and the Internet.    
     
     
         129 . The method according to  claim 127 , wherein: 
 the questions include questions about at least one of physical characteristics, lifestyle and medical history.    
     
     
         130 . The method according to  claim 129 , wherein: 
 the physical characteristics include age, gender, race, height and weight.    
     
     
         131 . The method according to  claim 129 , wherein: 
 the lifestyle questions include questions about at least one of smoking habits, drinking habits, vitamin intake, and stress.    
     
     
         132 . The method according to  claim 129 , wherein: 
 the medical history questions include questions about at least one of blood pressure, diabetes, menopause, ovary removal, hormone replacement, CAD, heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular hypertophy, family history, lipid profile, stress tests, and angiograms.    
     
     
         133 . The method according to  claim 127 , wherein: 
 the step of receiving the responses includes storing the responses in memory.    
     
     
         134 . The method according to  claim 133 , wherein: 
 the memory includes at least one database.    
     
     
         135 . The method according to  claim 127 , wherein: 
 the risk factors are determined using practice guidelines.    
     
     
         136 . The method according to  claim 135 , wherein: 
 the practice guidelines include practice guidelines published by at least one of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research, and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.    
     
     
         137 . The method according to  claim 127 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing substantially contemporaneous feedback to the responses via the processor.    
     
     
         138 . The method according to  claim 137 , wherein: 
 the substantially contemporaneous feedback includes at least one of general information about the at least one of the risk factors and whether the at least one of the risk factors is positive for an individual.    
     
     
         139 . The method according to  claim 127 , wherein: 
 the particular disease is CAD.    
     
     
         140 . The method according to  claim 127 , further comprising the steps of: 
 if the individual does not have the particular disease, determining the risk of the individual developing the disease using at least one of the responses and practice guidelines for the particular disease; and    if the individual does have the particular disease, determining the associated consequences of the disease using at least one of the responses and the practice guidelines for the disease.    
     
     
         141 . The method according to  claim 140 , wherein: 
 the associated consequences include invasive intervention and noninvasive intervention.    
     
     
         142 . The method according to  claim 141 , wherein: 
 the invasive intervention includes at least one of surgery and angioplasty.    
     
     
         143 . The method acceding to  claim 140 , wherein: 
 the noninvasive intervention includes at least one of pharmacologit intervention and education.    
     
     
         144 . A method for providing information to a user, comprising the steps of: 
 interactively receiving via a processor questions;    transmitting via the processor responses to the questions, risk factors specific to an individual for a particular disease being determined based on at least one of the responses; and    if at least one of the risk factors is modifiable, receiving information as to how to modify the at least one of the risk factors to decrease one of a risk of developing and a risk associated with the particular disease.    
     
     
         145 . The method according to  claim 144 , wherein: 
 the processor operates in at least one of a LAN environment, WAN environment, WAN environment, the WWW and the Internet.    
     
     
         146 . The method according to  claim 144 , wherein: 
 the questions include questions about at least one of physical characteristics, lifestyle and medical history.    
     
     
         147 . The method according to  claim 146 , wherein: 
 the physical characteristics include age, gender, race, height and weight.    
     
     
         148 . The method according to  claim 146 , wherein: 
 the lifestyle questions include questions about at least one of smoking habits, drinking habits, vitamin intake, and stress.    
     
     
         149 . The method according to  claim 146 , wherein: 
 the medical history questions include questions about at least one of blood pressure, diabetes, menopause, ovary removal, hormone replacement, CAD, heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular hypertophy, family history, lipid profile, stress tests, and angiograms.    
     
     
         150 . The method according to  claim 144 , wherein: 
 the step of transmitting the responses includes storing the responses in memory.    
     
     
         151 . The method according to  claim 150 , wherein: 
 the memory includes at least one database.    
     
     
         152 . The method according to  claim 144 , wherein: 
 the risk factors are determined using practice guidelines.    
     
     
         153 . The method according to  claim 152 , wherein: 
 the practice guidelines include practice guidelines published by at least one of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research, and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.    
     
     
         154 . The method according to  claim 144 , further comprising the step of: 
 receiving substantially contemporaneous feedback to the responses via the processor.    
     
     
         155 . The method according to  claim 154 , wherein: 
 the substantially contemporaneous feedback includes at least one of general information about the at least one of the risk factors and whether the at least one of the risk factors is positive for an individual.    
     
     
         156 . The method according to  claim 144 , wherein: 
 the particular disease is CAD.    
     
     
         157 . The method according to  claim 125 , wherein: 
 if the individual does not have the particular disease, the risk of the individual developing the disease is determined using at least one of the responses and practice guidelines for the particular disease; and    if the individual does have the particular disease, the associated consequences of the disease is determined using at least one of the responses and the practice guidelines for the disease.    
     
     
         158 . The method according to  claim 157 , wherein: 
 the associated consequences include invasive intervention and noninvasive intervention.    
     
     
         159 . The method according to  claim 158 , wherein: 
 the invasive intervention includes at least one of surgery and angioplasty.    
     
     
         160 . The method according to  claim 159 , wherein: 
 the noninvasive intervention includes at lest one of pharmacological therapy and education.    
     
     
         161 . A method for tracking progress of risk factor modification, comprising the steps of: 
 interactively providing via processor questions to a user;    receiving via the processor responses to the questions;    determining risk factors specific to an individual for a particular disease based on at least one of the responses;    informing the user of ways to modify at least one of the risk factors to decrease a risk of the individual developing a particular disease when the at least one of the risk factors is modifiable; and    tracking progress over time made by the individual in modifying the at least one of the risk factors.    
     
     
         162 . The method according to  claim 161 , wherein: 
 the processor operates in at least one of a LAN environment, WAN environment, the WWW and the Internet.    
     
     
         163 . The method according to  claim 161 , wherein: 
 the questions include questions about at least one of physical characteristics, lifestyle and medical history.    
     
     
         164 . The method according to  claim 163 , wherein: 
 the physical characteristics include age, gender, race, height and weight.    
     
     
         165 . The method according to  claim 163 , wherein: 
 the lifestyle questions include questions about at least one of smoking habits, drinking habits, vitamin intake, and stress.    
     
     
         166 . The method according to  claim 163 , wherein: 
 the medical history questions include questions about at least one of blood pressure, diabetes, menopause, ovary removal, hormone replacement, CAD, heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular hypertophy, family history, lipid profile, stress tests, and angiograms.    
     
     
         167 . The method according to  claim 161 , wherein: 
 the step of receiving the responses includes storing the responses in memory.    
     
     
         168 . The method according to  claim 167 , wherein: 
 the memory includes at least one database.    
     
     
         169 . The method according to  claim 161 , wherein: 
 the risk factors are determined using practice guidelines.    
     
     
         170 . The method according to  claim 169 , wherein: 
 the practice guidelines include practice guidelines published by at least one of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research, and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.    
     
     
         171 . The method according to  claim 161 , further comprising the step of: 
 providing substantially contemporaneous feedback to the responses via the processor.    
     
     
         172 . The method according to  claim 171 , wherein: 
 the substantially contemporaneous feedback includes at least one of general information about the at least one of the risk factors and whether the at least one of the risk factors is positive for an individual.    
     
     
         173 . The method according to  claim 161 , wherein: 
 the particular disease is CAD.    
     
     
         174 . The method according to  claim 161 , further comprising the steps of: 
 if the individual does not have the particular disease, determining the risk of the individual developing the disease using at least one of the responses and practice guidelines for the particular disease; and    if the individual does have the particular disease, determining the associated consequences of the disease using at least one of the responses and the practice guidelines for the disease.    
     
     
         175 . The method according to  claim 174 , wherein: 
 the associated consequences include invasive intervention and noninvasive intervention.    
     
     
         176 . The method according to  claim 175 , wherein: 
 the invasive intervention includes at least one of surgery and angioplasty.    
     
     
         177 . The method according to  claim 175 , wherein: 
 the noninvasive intervention includes at least one of pharmacological therapy and education.    
     
     
         178 . The method according to  claim 161 , wherein: 
 the step of tracking includes advising the user when there has been one of a change and no change in a risk factor.    
     
     
         179 . A method for tracking progress of risk factor modification, comprising the steps of: 
 interactively receiving via a processor questions;    transmitting via the processor responses to the questions, risk factors specific to an individual for a particular disease being determined based on at least one of the responses;    receiving ways to modify at least one of the risk factors to decrease a risk of the individual developing a particular disease when the at least one of the risk factors is modifiable; and    tracking progress over time made by the individual in modifying the at least one of the risk factors.    
     
     
         180 . The method according to  claim 179 , wherein: 
 the processor operates in at least one of a LAN environment, WAN environment, WAN environment, the WWW and the Internet.    
     
     
         181 . The method according to  claim 179 , wherein: 
 the questions include questions about at least one of physical characteristics, lifestyle and medical history.    
     
     
         182 . The method according to  claim 181 , wherein: 
 the physical characteristics include age, gender, race, height and weight.    
     
     
         183 . The method according to  claim 181 , wherein: 
 the lifestyle questions include questions about at least one of smoking habits, drinking habits, vitamin intake, and stress.    
     
     
         184 . The method according to  claim 181 , wherein: 
 the medical history questions include questions about at least one of blood pressure, diabetes, menopause, ovary removal, hormone replacement, CAD, heart attack, coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty, peripheral vascular disease, left ventricular hypertophy, family history, lipid profile, stress tests, and angiograms.    
     
     
         185 . The method according to  claim 179 , wherein: 
 the step of transmitting the responses includes storing the responses in memory.    
     
     
         186 . The method according to  claim 185 , wherein: 
 the memory includes at least one database.    
     
     
         187 . The method according to  claim 179 , wherein: 
 the risk factors are determined using practice guidelines.    
     
     
         188 . The method according to  claim 187 , wherein: 
 the practice guidelines include practice guidelines published by at least one of the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research, and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.    
     
     
         189 . The method according to  claim 179 , further comprising the step of: 
 receiving substantially contemporaneous feedback to the responses via the processor.    
     
     
         190 . The method according to  claim 189 , wherein: 
 the substantially contemporaneous feedback includes at least one of general information about the at least one of the risk factors and whether the at least one of the risk factors is positive for the individual.    
     
     
         191 . The method according to  claim 179 , wherein: 
 the particular disease is CAD.    
     
     
         192 . The method according to  claim 179 , wherein: 
 if the individual does not have the particular disease, risk of the individual developing the disease is determined using at least one of the responses and practice guidelines for the particular disease; and    if the individual does have the particular disease, associated risks of the disease using at least one of the responses and the practice guidelines for the disease.    
     
     
         193 . The method according to  claim 192 , wherein: 
 the associated consequences include invasive intervention and noninvasive intervention.    
     
     
         194 . The method according to  claim 193 , wherein: 
 the invasive intervention includes at least one of surgery and angioplasty.    
     
     
         195 . The method according to  claim 193 , wherein: 
 the noninvasive intervention includes at least one of pharmacological therapy and education.    
     
     
         196 . The method according to  claim 179 , wherein: 
 the step of tracking includes receiving advice when there has been one of a change and no change in a risk factor.

Join the waitlist — get patent alerts

Track US2002082906A1 — get alerts on status changes and closely related new filings.

We store only your email — no account needed. See our privacy policy.