A characteristic, exposure, behavior, condition, or circumstance associated with an increased likelihood of developing a disease or experiencing a health outcome.
Risk factors can be biological, genetic, environmental, behavioral, social, or related to other health conditions. Having a risk factor does not mean that a person will definitely develop the associated disease.
Some risk factors can be modified, such as smoking, while others, such as age or certain genetic characteristics, cannot.
QUICK FACT
A risk factor indicates increased probability, not certainty or causation.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
Cause: something that contributes directly to producing a disease or condition. A risk factor may contribute to risk without being a direct cause.
SEE ALSO
