[Update on preventive cardiology and rehabilitation]

The aim of the Preventive Cardiology and Rehabilitation Section of the Spanish Society of Cardiology is to promote knowledge about and adoption of the lifestyle, therapy and rehabilitation program guidelines that are best able to improve cardiovascular health in the Spanish population. To achieve this aim, a number of working groups have carried out research into and provided education about the latest developments in cardiovascular prevention, and have provided information about these developments to all those affected, including physicians, healthcare workers, healthcare administrators and the general public. This year, the working group on smoking produced an key document that was presented to cardiologists in our Society; its intention was to provide a simple algorithm to help patients give up smoking that could be applied in only 3 minutes. The working group on cardiac rehabilitation gave a presentation on the true impact of rehabilitation on survival after percutaneous coronary intervention and heart failure. Also this year, the European Society of Cardiology published a major revision of guidelines on the treatment of dyslipidemia, which was welcomed by many but criticized by others. Our correspondent at the European Society reflects on the role and usefulness of these guidelines in practice.