risk factor

American  

noun

1. a condition, behavior, or other factor that increases risk.

   Smoking is a major risk factor for cancer;

   depression as a risk factor in suicide.

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risk factor British  

noun

1. med a factor, such as a habit or an environmental condition, that predisposes an individual to develop a particular disease

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Etymology

Origin of risk factor

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

"Obesity is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and the condition can lead to more severe consequences in young people -- leaving them at risk of serious complications like kidney failure and heart disease," she added.

From Barron's

"Changes in circadian rhythms happen with aging, and evidence suggests that circadian rhythm disturbances may be a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases like dementia," said study author Wendy Wang, MPH, PhD, of the Peter O'Donnell Jr. School of Public Health at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.

From Science Daily

Private credit is added this month as a risk factor, with 14% of fund managers surveyed citing this as the biggest ‘tail risk’ over the coming year.

From The Wall Street Journal

“The immediate risk factor inherent in our investment view is the uncertainty about exactly what course the administration is likely to pursue,” Coffey wrote.

From Barron's

It’s also the largest known risk factor for men who get breast cancer, Hal Burstein, a breast oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch