Högrisk

Högrisk is a Swedish term meaning high risk. In risk assessment and everyday language, it is used to label situations, individuals, or activities where the probability of a negative outcome is considerable and the potential consequences are serious. The exact threshold that separates "high risk" from "not high risk" varies by domain, policy, and context.

In finance and investing, högrisk describes assets or strategies with greater volatility, leverage, or uncertainty, such as small-cap stocks, commodities, or speculative instruments. Such investments offer the possibility of higher returns but also larger losses, and they typically attract closer monitoring and a higher required return.

In health care, högrisk refers to patients, conditions, or treatments with an elevated probability of adverse events, disease progression, or complications. Risk stratification uses scoring tools, patient history, and clinical data to identify high-risk individuals and tailor monitoring, prevention, or interventions accordingly.

In safety, environment, and regulation, högrisk designations apply to areas, activities, or entities exposed to substantial potential harm—from natural hazards to regulatory compliance risks. Risk assessment combines the likelihood of an event with its impact, producing a risk level used to prioritize mitigation, controls, or monitoring.

Common framework defines risk as the product of probability and impact; thresholds and actions vary by context. Effective handling includes avoidance, mitigation, transfer, or acceptance, with ongoing reassessment as new information emerges.