title: Primary and secondary prevention in cardiovascular disease: an old-fashioned concept?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Is the concept of primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention an old-fashioned concept that needs to be re-defined?
  
  
  METHODS
  Discussion paper.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cardiovascular prevention means reduction of absolute risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), irrespective of clinical stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For the calculation of an individual probability to develop CVD all factors that contribute to the risk must be taken into account, including previous CVD events.
authors.affiliation: Julius Center for General Practice and Patient Oriented Research, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F V
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: van Venrooij
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Stolk
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Banga
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Erkelens
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Grobbee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects