[Cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Preventive Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• The traditional separation of primary and secondary prevention in cardiovascular health has been replaced by a unified approach centered on individual risk assessment.
• This shift mandates a comprehensive evaluation of each person's unique cardiovascular risk profile.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the current guidelines and methodologies for assessing individual cardiovascular risk.
• To detail the recommended non-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical interventions for cardiovascular prevention.
• To identify barriers to the optimal implementation of cardiovascular prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Individual cardiovascular risk is determined by the presence of index diseases (e.g., myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial disease) or a composite score of conventional risk factors.
• Prevention is indicated when the risk for fatal cardiovascular disease is ≥5% or the risk for a major cardiovascular event is ≥20%.

Main Results:

• Non-pharmaceutical interventions include smoking cessation, a Mediterranean diet rich in fatty fish, regular physical activity, and maintaining a normal body weight.
• Optimal management of blood pressure and diabetes mellitus is crucial.
• Pharmacological treatments involve platelet inhibitors, beta-blockers, ACE-inhibitors, statins, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Conclusions:

• Current cardiovascular prevention strategies emphasize personalized risk assessment and a multi-faceted approach combining lifestyle modifications and pharmacotherapy.
• Structural and individual factors in Germany can hinder the effective implementation of these preventive measures.