Coronary Artery Disease Risk Assessment in Sedentary and Active Patients: Medical Risk, Behavioral Psychology, and the Standard of Care

Abstract

Objective: A practical approach to determining risk in sed- entary and active patients for coronary artery disease. Iden- tify how personal/family history, atherogenic risk factors, and coronary calcium are essential to determining and predicting risk potential. Materials/methods: Review of the medical, behavioral psychology, and standard of care literature to identify how human psychology, statistical risk of coronary disease, and coronary calcium shape risk prediction. Results: A comprehensive personal/family history, risk fac- tor assessment and comprehensive physical examination are the foundation of risk assessment. Understanding the cognitive process of risk potential is critical to management strategies. Stress testing and coronary calcium scoring are useful adjuncts when initial screening is suggestive of inter- mediate atherogenic risk. Conclusion: Comprehensive personal/family history, risk factor assessment, comprehensive physical examination, cognitive processing of risk potential, stress testing and calcium scoring all have a role in risk assessment of sedentary and active patients.