[The primary and secondary prevention of ischemic cardiopathy].
The aim of this paper was to summarize the most important clinical issues on coronary artery disease prevention, in order to provide the best advice to cardiologists, and facilitate their work on primary and secondary prevention. Although in recent years the knowledge of the beneficial effects of major risk factor modification has been increasing, most physicians still concentrate only on patients with overt coronary artery disease. Many high-risk individuals are not adequately advised and treated, whilst a great effort should be made by national institutions and individual doctors to implement primary prevention schemes. Indeed, the potential for preventive measures is greatest in high-risk groups. Specific international task forces have issued official recommendations on the prevention of coronary heart disease in clinical practice, which have been intended to encourage the development and revision of national guidelines on coronary prevention. The challenge for cardiologists in the year 2000 is to realize the potential for coronary prevention in all patients, and to contribute to reduce the enormous socio-economic burden of cardiovascular disease.
Chierchia
S
S
Dipartimento di Cardiologia e Scienze Cardiovascolari, Istituto Scientifico San Raffaele, Milano. chierchia.sergio@hsr.it
Fragasso
G
G
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012307:Risk Factors
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D019039:Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex