[Use of clinical ultrasound in primary care: Cardiovascular risk]

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Primary Care Medicine
• Diagnostic Imaging

Context:

• Cardiovascular risk assessment traditionally relies on physical exams, ECGs, and lab tests.
• Primary care physicians are increasingly adopting point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to enhance clinical decision-making.
• Integrating POCUS into primary care can improve the early detection and management of cardiovascular diseases.

Purpose:

• To establish the foundational principles for utilizing ultrasound in primary care for cardiovascular risk assessment.
• To outline the application of ultrasound in diagnosing carotid/femoral atheromatosis, screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms, and evaluating hepatic steatosis.
• To guide the use of ultrasound for renal assessment in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Summary:

• This work proposes the integration of ultrasound into primary care for comprehensive cardiovascular risk evaluation.
• Key applications include diagnosing atherosclerosis, screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms, assessing hepatic steatosis, and evaluating kidney health in CKD patients.
• Ultrasound complements traditional methods, strengthening diagnostic suspicion and guiding therapeutic strategies.

Impact:

• Enhanced cardiovascular risk stratification and management in primary care settings.
• Improved early detection of subclinical atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysms.
• Facilitation of timely therapeutic interventions and personalized patient care plans.