A method and apparatus for providing real-time support in interpreting a patient's ECG in order to assess the probability of perioperative cardiovascular risk associated with performing a non-cardiac surgery. The apparatus includes an acquisition unit for acquiring an ECG and a processor for determining whether the ECG has diagnostic statements of risk. From the diagnostic statements of risk, the processor determines the probability of cardiovascular risk associated with the non-cardiac surgery. The probability of cardiovascular risk is displayed on display in the form of an indicator of either major, intermediate, or minor cardiovascular risk.The method includes acquiring a patient's ECG, determining whether the ECG exhibits diagnostic statements of cardiovascular risk, and determining the probability of cardiovascular risk based on the diagnostic statements, and displaying the determined probability of cardiovascular risk.