Multivariable evaluation of candidates for cardiovascular disease

Abstract

A preventive approach to management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) is needed because once CVD becomes manifest, it is often immediately lethal and those fortunate enough to survive seldom can be restored to full function. Prevention of the major atherosclerotic CVD events is now feasible because several modifiable predisposing risk factors have been ascertained that when corrected, can reduce the likelihood of such events occurring (1,2). Multivariate risk formulations for estimating the probability of cardiovascular events conditional on the burden of a number of specified risk factors have been produced to facilitate evaluation of candidates for CVD in need of preventive management (3-6). © 2006 Humana Press Inc.