Abstract
In developed countries, atherosclerosis is the main cause of morbidity and mortality. However, it is a treacherous disease that does not hurt for a long time, has a long asymptomatic period and acute ischemic events are often the first and often immediatly disabling or fatal manifestations of the disease.
In Europe, every sixth man and every seventh woman die of an acute myocardial infarction. On the other hand, the great advantage of atherosclerosis is its long time till the first event, known risk factors which provides the opportunity for prevention to those who care.
In recent years, there has been a decline in mortality in cardiovascular events, which is due to only 5% revascularisation of chronic coronary heart disease, from 10% to acute therapy and to full 44% by influencing risk factors at population level and 47% effective pharmacotherapy of risk factors at individual level (treatment of dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, diabetes). Nowadays attention is also focused on less common risk factors (sleep apnea syndrome, psychosocial issues) and on previously neglected subpopulations of patients (rheumatology patients, patients with endocrinopathies).
Preventive cardiology is a team affair. Besides cardiologists, other specialists, such as diabetologists, sport physicians, participate in the care.
A large part of this issue is also dealt by specialists often referred to as non-medical health professionals (eg nutrition specialists, psychologists, physiotherapists, exercise instructors). Telemedicine will play a major role in the future, which should allow a wider range of patients to intervene, although it is obvious that human contact will not be replaced them completely.