Vascular risk assessment and management

Abstract

Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally. Methods: the integrated care pathways (ICPs) are tools through which evidence-based guidelines (GLs) on a specific disease or clinical topic can be implemented in a clinical process. Aim: This study aims to facilitate decision making for health professionals in their daily practice. Results: This model, according with the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Guidelines, supports the multifactorial evaluation of global cardiovascular (CV) risk and suggests using algorithms and revised cardiovascular risk stratification, specifically for high- and very-high-risk patients. Conclusions: Multidimensional and integrated actions are aimed at eliminating and/or minimizing the impact of cardiovascular disease, improving the quality and consistency of vascular prevention, and leading to optimal clinical decisions.

Keywords: Cardiovascular risk; clinical pathways; stratification; vascular medicine; vascular prevention.