Cor Vasa 2007, 49(7-8):272-276

Current concepts in preventive cardiology. Introduction to a series of publications on preventive cardiology

Hana Rosolová, Jaroslav Šimon

Centrum preventivní kardiologie, II. interní klinika Univerzity Karlovy, Praha - Lékařská fakulta a Fakultní nemocnice v Plzni, Plzeň, Česká republika

The main goals of preventive cardiology are:
1. to prevent the development of the most frequent cardiovascular (CVD) and/or atherosclerotic vascular (AVD) diseases (primary prevention) and 2. to prevent their progression, recurrence of acute events and related morbidity (secondary prevention). Despite the downward trend of mortality from coronary heart disease, 50% of all acute coronary events continue to kill those affected before professional care can be provided! An epidemic of Type-2 diabetes is expected in this century, resulting in a further rise in the incidence, prevalence, and mortality from AVD. These facts pose an enormous challenge to preventive cardiology. The paper provides definitions for the risk factor, types of risks (absolute, relative, additive) and basic approaches in preventive cardiology (medical model and a population-based strategy).
As the most frequent AVDs and the most frequent metabolic disorders (metabolic syndrome, abnormal obesity, impaired glucose homeostasis, diabetes) are closely interrelated, the authors point to the issue of cardiometabolic risk and draw the readers' attention to the recent European guidelines for diabetes, pre-diabetes a cardiovascular disease.

Keywords: Prevention; Atherosclerotic vascular disease; Risk factors; Absolute and relative risk

Published: July 1, 2007  Show citation