The key issues in preventive cardiology.
A number of risk factors/indicators for cardiovascular disease, mainly stroke and coronary artery disease, have been established. Most powerful among the traditional risk factors are hypertension, cigarette smoking and elevated serum cholesterol. All three can successfully be modified by therapeutic intervention, which in turn will result in reduced risks. In recent years several novel risk indicators have been identified. The most powerful of these appears to be increased left ventricular mass, particularly when diagnosed with echocardiographic technique. Again, it is possible to reduce this risk factor, for instance by antihypertensive therapy, but the independent risk reduction attributable to this manoeuvre remains to be determined. Other novel risk indicators are male type adipose distribution, reduced insulin sensitivity and a number of newly detected lipoprotein fractions. At present little is known about the value of intervention against these factors in terms of risk reduction. It can be concluded that a structured concerted effort at reducing established risk factors such as arterial hypertension, elevated serum cholesterol and cigarette smoking is desirable for forming the basis of preventive strategies in cardiology. As regards some of the novel risk indicators, some of which appear more powerful than the old established ones, further research is needed before a clear opinion can be formulated regarding the value of intervention.
Department of Medicine, University of Göteborg, Ostra Hospital, Sweden.
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Hansson
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors