Preventive Cardiology as Specialized Medical Art

Abstract

The last four decades have ushered in substantial progress in reducing the burden of cardiovascular mortality. However, much of this improvement has been achieved through advances in managing already established disease. There is now an unprecedented opportunity to focus efforts on the primary prevention of cardiovascular events, given breakthroughs in lifestyle counseling, risk assessment, risk factor management, and pharmacotherapy. In parallel with these developments, the budding specialty known as “preventive cardiology” has come to the fore from the background of long-established clinical services such as lipid, hypertension, diabetes, and general cardiology clinics. Given the ominous projections of increased cardiovascular mortality, due to the burgeoning epidemics of obesity and diabetes, there is now a mandate to invest in cardiovascular disease prevention. This chapter focuses on the origins of preventive cardiology as a concept and as a discipline, the organization and personnel required for practice of this medical art, core competencies, common referrals to preventive cardiology programs, a suggested structure for education and fellowship training, and the need for professional recognition and board certification.