Flow to Calculate a Patient's Cardrovascular Risk to Determine Therapeutic Management

Prof JA Ker; Dr J Ker

Flow to Calculate a Patient's Cardrovascular Risk to Determine Therapeutic Management

Prof JA Ker University of Pretoria
Dr J Ker University of Stellenbosch

Keywords: Coronary heart disease, Cardiovascular risk, Cholesterol

Abstract

The lifetime risk is a useful concept to estimate an individual's cumulative risk of developing a disease during that individual's remaining lifespan. Although mortality from coronary heart disease remains the single leading cause of death for adults worldwide, it was only recently that the lifetime risk for coronary heart disease was calculated from the Framingham Heart Study. Lifetime risk to develop coronary heart disease at the age of 40 years is One in Two for males and One in Three for females. This knowledge may promote efforts to screen for and treat patients at high risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Author Biographies

Prof JA Ker, University of Pretoria

MBChB, MMed (Int), MD, Professor of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine

Dr J Ker, University of Stellenbosch

MBChB, MMed (Int), Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences

Issue

Vol 45 No 1 (2003)

Section

CPD

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