[Cardiovascular risk factors and Primary Care: evaluation and intervention]

Abstract

There is high prevalence of major cardiovascular risk factors (MCVRF) in Spain, equal or greater than the rest of the countries in Europe, with a tendency to increase, while the their control is in general sub-optimal. In the clinical setting, and in Primary Care clinics in particular, preventive activities and early detection (screening) of MCVRF that are well established by the scientific evidence should be carried out. Smoking should be tackled and treated with decisively, even more so in the context of the favourable current legislation. The measurement of risk factors makes it easy to take decisions in clinical practice, but should not be substituted for clinical judgement, given the limitation of the currently available calculation methods. The concept of overall focus on cardiovascular risks can obtain a reduction of the risk by the synergetic action on the different MCVRF in each individual case. The aim must be to reduce the probability of having a cardiovascular disease in the future, as well as the loss in quality of life, incapacity and associated mortality.