To identify individuals at high risk for cardiovascular disease, the function of the Progetto CUORE has been identified and the global cardiovascular risk score has been built using data from different cohorts enrolled in the North, Center and South of Italy between the 80s and the 90s, whose risk factors had been collected using standardised procedures. A follow-up with a median duration of 9.5 years for men and 8.0 years for women has been achieved. Age, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, smoking habit, diabetes and hypertension treatment have been included in the function; the first major coronary or cerebrovascular event was considered as endpoint; 10-year survival has been assessed both for men and women. Out of 20 647 people aged 35-69 years with no previous cardiovascular events, 971 major cardiovascular events (636 coronary and 335 cerebrovascular) have been identified and validated. Risk factors coefficients have been assessed using the Cox proportional hazard model separately for men and women. The individual score is easy to be applied by general practitioners and cardiologists in order to achieve a fast and objective evaluation of the absolute global cardiovascular risk in primary prevention.