(AP) - The update incorporates new findings and expert opinion that have emerged since the AHA's original recommendations in 1997 and is intended to assist primary care providers in their assessment, management and follow-up of at-risk yet asymptomatic patients. The consensus panel working on the update aimed to reflect data on the degree of risk imposed by specific risk factors and to categorise people more specifically according to their number and types of risk factors.
The panel says that "risk factor screening" should begin at the age of 20, which includes having blood pressure, body mass index, waist circumference and pulse recorded at least every two years and cholesterol and glucose recorded at least every five years.
At the age of 40, or for anyone with two or more risk factors, the guidelines recommend that physicians make a "global risk estimation". This combines information from all existing risk factors to determine a person's percentage risk for developing cardiovascular disease in the next 10 years.
The guidance also suggests low-dose aspirin for people who have an increased risk for coronary heart disease and anticoagulants to reduce stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Dr Thomas Pearson, chair of the AHA consensus panel, said the challenge for healthcare professionals was to start comprehensive risk reduction for more patients at an earlier stage of the disease.
"The imperative to prevent the first episode of coronary disease or stroke remains strong because many first-ever heart attacks or strokes are fatal or disabling," he explained.
Reference: Pearson et al, Circulation 2002;106:388-391 (c) Health Media Ltd 2002
