Providing patients with global cardiovascular risk information: is knowledge power?

Overview

Title:

Providing patients with global cardiovascular risk information: is knowledge power?

Authors:

Ahmad T, Mora S

Journal:

Arch Intern Med

Publication date:

2010

Volume:

170

Issue:

3

First page:

227

Last page:

228

ISSN:

1538-3679

Link to pubmed:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20142566

Publication type:

Journal

Free text

Extract. Studies performed by the World Health Organization (WHO) show that at least one-third of all disease burden in developed countries can be attributable to 5 modifiable risk factors: tobacco use, blood pressure level, cholesterol level, obesity, and alcohol use.¹ Patients play a fundamental role in public health as they ultimately make decisions regarding how to lead their lives. These important choices have an impact on their health, the effectiveness of prescribed treatments, and their use of medical resources. Therefore, in order to improve the health of patients, the role of health care professionals extends beyond practicing evidence-based medicine to providing patients with an easy-to-understand assessment of their cardiovascular disease risk and the means to modify their risk. Current guidelines recommend office-based risk stratification of all individuals using multiple risk factor scores to determine global risk. An expanding number of readily accessible assessments of . . .

Preview

Providing patients with global cardiovascular risk information: is knowledge power? Ahmad T, Mora S. Arch Intern Med 2010; 170(3):227-228.