Principles of Primary and Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

This chapter is divided into two sections. The first section focuses on the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), while the second discusses secondary prevention of CVD. Common to both parts is the risk assessment of individuals for the development of CVD and its associated outcomes. Each section discusses the relative contribution that specific risk factors play in primary and secondary prevention as well as pharmacologic and therapeutic lifestyle changes that can be made to alter an individuals’ CVD risk profile.