[The cardiological progression under scrutiny of medicometrics. The case for cardiovascular prevention]

The utility of a new global approach to public health planning, "medicometry", is demonstrated using the example of cardiovascular prevention with its costs and benefits. Although cost-benefit analyses have become plethoric in recent years, they do not give the answers to the right questions asked by a society concerned by the explosion of investments in health care. Medicometry illustrates the complexity of the choices in cardiology and proposes alternative solutions different from simplistic proposals for short term budget cuts. For this demonstration several examples are used: the monetary gains of secondary and primary prevention; the impact of the geographical distribution of physicians on medical utilization; self-control of quality; and the impact of scientific and technologic developments on future costs. The impact of health care choices on the whole of society is stressed. The global feed-back of all medical branches, such as cardiology, is explained taking into account quality-of-life targets and economic, demographic and social constraints.