[Use of the risk factor concept in cardiovascular diseases (author's transl)]

The essential implication of the notion of risk factor is that preventive action should be undertaken if certain factors, predisposing to cardiovascular diseases are present in an individual or in a group. Risk factors are thus categorized from the pragmatic point of view, according to the relative ease and practicability of prophylactic intervention -- and their justification. A brief review of the risk factors of the major cardiovascular diseases (coronary heart disease, hypertension, chronic pulmonary heart disease, stroke, rheumatic heart disease and congenital malformations) shows that the risk factor concept is the basis of preventive cardiology.