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Resumen: Las guías europeas de prevención cardiovascular contemplan 2 sistemas de evaluación de la evidencia (SEC y GRADE) y recomiendan combinar las estrategias poblacional y de alto riesgo, interviniendo en todas las etapas de la vida, con la dieta como piedra angular de la prevención. La valoración del riesgo cardiovascular (RCV) incorpora los niveles de HDL y los factores psicosociales, una categoría de muy alto riesgo y el concepto edad-riesgo. Se recomienda el uso de métodos cognitivo-conductuales (entrevista motivadora, intervenciones psicológicas), aplicados por profesionales sanitarios, con la participación de familiares de los pacientes, para contrarrestar el estrés psicosocial y reducir el RCV mediante dietas saludables, entrenamiento físico, abandono del tabaco y cumplimiento terapéutico. También se requieren medidas de salud pública, como la prohibición de fumar en lugares públicos o eliminar los ácidos grasos trans de la cadena alimentaria. Otras novedades consisten en desestimar el tratamiento antiagregante en prevención primaria y la recomendación de mantener la presión arterial dentro del rango 130-139/80-85 mmHg en pacientes diabéticos o con RCV alto. Se destaca el bajo cumplimiento terapéutico observado, porque influye en el pronóstico de los pacientes y en los costes sanitarios. Para mejorar la prevención cardiovascular se precisa una verdadera alianza entre políticos, administraciones, asociaciones científicas y profesionales de la salud, fundaciones de salud, asociaciones de consumidores, pacientes y sus familias, que impulse la estrategia tanto poblacional como individual mediante el uso de toda la evidencia científica disponible, desde ensayos clínicos hasta estudios observacionales y modelos matemáticos para evaluar intervenciones a nivel poblacional, incluyendo análisis de coste-efectividad. Abstract: Based on the two main frameworks for evaluating scientific evidence (SEC and GRADE) European cardiovascular prevention guidelines recommend interventions across all life stages using a combination of population-based and high-risk strategies with diet as the cornerstone of prevention. The evaluation of cardiovascular risk (CVR) incorporates HDL levels and psychosocial factors, a very high risk category, and the concept of age-risk. They also recommend cognitive-behavioural methods (e.g., motivational interviewing, psychological interventions) led by health professionals and with the participation of the patient's family, to counterbalance psychosocial stress and reduce CVR through the institution of positive habits such as a healthy diet, physical activity, smoking cessation, and adherence to treatment. Additionally, public health interventions — such as smoking ban in public areas or the elimination of trans fatty acids from the food chain — are also essential. Other innovations include abandoning antiplatelet therapy in primary prevention and the recommendation of maintaining blood pressure within the 130-139/80-85 mmHg range in diabetic patients and individuals with high CVR. Finally, due to the significant impact on patient progress and medical costs, special emphasis is given to the low therapeutic adherence levels observed. In sum, improving cardiovascular prevention requires a true partnership among the political class, public administrations, scientific and professional associations, health foundations, consumer associations, patients and their families. Such partnership would promote population-based and individual strategies by taking advantage of the broad spectrum of scientific evidence available, from clinical trials to observational studies and mathematical models to evaluate population-based interventions, including cost-effectiveness analyses. Palabras clave: Prevención cardiovascular, Riesgo cardiovascular, Enfermedades cardiovasculares, Guías de práctica clínica, Keywords: Cardiovascular prevention, Cardiovascular risk, Cardiovascular diseases, Clinical practice guidelines

A B S T R A C T Cardiovascular disease develops in a slow and subclinical manner over decades, only to manifest suddenly and unexpectedly. The role of prevention is crucial, both before and after clinical appearance, and there is ample evidence of the effectiveness and usefulness of the early detection of at-risk individuals and lifestyle modifications or pharmacological approaches. However, these approaches require time, perseverance, and continuous development. The present article reviews the developments in 2013 in epidemiological aspects related to prevention, includes relevant contributions in areas such as diet, weight control methods (obesity is now considered a disease), and physical activity recommendations (with warnings about the risk of strenuous exercise), deals with habit-related psychosocial factors such as smoking, provides an update on emerging issues such as genetics, addresses the links between cardiovascular disease and other pathologies such as kidney disease, summarizes the contributions of new, updated guidelines (3 of which have recently been released on topics of considerable clinical importance: hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease), analyzes the pharmacological advances (largely mediocre except for promising lipid-related results), and finishes by outlining developments in the oft-neglected field of cardiac rehabilitation. This article provides a briefing on controversial issues, presents interesting and somewhat surprising developments, updates established knowledge with undoubted application in clinical practice, and sheds light on potential future contributions.

Las guías europeas de prevención cardiovascular contemplan dos sistemas de evaluación de la evidencia (SEC y GRADE) y recomiendan combinar las estrategias poblacional y de alto riesgo, interviniendo en todas las etapas de la vida, con la dieta como piedra angular de la prevención. La valoración del RCV incorpora los niveles de HDL y los factores psicosociales, una categoría de muy alto riesgo y el concepto edad-riesgo. Se recomienda el uso de métodos cognitivo-conductuales (entrevista motivadora, intervenciones psicológicas), aplicados por profesionales sanitarios, con la participación de familiares de los pacientes, para contrarrestar el estrés psicosocial y reducir el RCV mediante dietas saludables, entrenamiento físico, abandono del tabaco y cumplimiento terapéutico. También se requieren medidas de salud pública, como la prohibición de fumar en lugares públicos o eliminar los ácidos grasos trans de la cadena alimentaria. Otras novedades consisten en desestimar el tratamiento antiagregante en prevención primaria y la recomendación de mantener la PA dentro del rango 130-139/80-85 mmHg en pacientes diabéticos o con RCV alto. Se destaca el bajo cumplimiento terapéutico observado, porque influye en el pronóstico de los pacientes y en los costes sanitarios. Para mejorar la prevención cardiovascular se precisa una verdadera alianza entre políticos, administraciones, asociaciones científicas y profesionales de la salud, fundaciones de salud, asociaciones de consumidores, pacientes y sus familias, que impulse las estrategias poblacional e individual, mediante el uso de toda la evidencia científica disponible, desde ensayos clínicos hasta estudios observacionales y modelos matemáticos para evaluar intervenciones a nivel poblacional, incluyendo análisis de coste-efectividad. Based on the two main frameworks for evaluating scientific evidence-SEC and GRADE-European cardiovascular prevention guidelines recommend interventions across all life stages using a combination of population-based and high-risk strategies with diet as the cornerstone of prevention. The evaluation of cardiovascular risk (CVR) incorporates HDL levels and psychosocial factors, a very high risk category, and the concept of age-risk. They also recommend cognitive-behavioural methods (e.g., motivational interviewing, psychological interventions, led by health professionals and with the participation of the patient's family, to counterbalance psychosocial stress and reduce CVR through the institution of positive habits such as a healthy diet, physical activity, smoking cessation, and adherence to treatment. Additionally, public health interventions-such as smoking ban in public areas or the elimination of trans fatty acids from the food chain-are also essential. Other innovations include abandoning antiplatelet therapy in primary prevention and the recommendation of maintaining blood pressure (BP) within the 130-139/80-85 mmHg range in diabetic patients and individuals with high CVR. Finally, due to the significant impact on patient progress and medical costs, special emphasis is given to the low therapeutic adherence levels observed. In sum, improving cardiovascular prevention requires a true partnership among the political class, public administrations, scientific and professional associations, health foundations, consumer associations, patients and their families. Such partnership would promote population-based and individual strategies by taking advantage of the broad spectrum of scientific evidence available, from clinical trials to observational studies and mathematical models to evaluate population-based interventions, including cost-effectiveness analyses.

In Spain, where cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death, hypercholesterolemia, one of the most prevalent risk factors in adults, is poorly controlled. Dyslipidemia should not be approached in isolation, but in the context of overall cardiovascular risk (CVR). Measurement of CVR facilitates decision making, but should not be the only tool nor should it take the place of clinical judgment, given the limitations of the available calculation methods. This document, prepared by the Interdisciplinary Spanish Committee on Cardiovascular Prevention, at the proposal of the Spanish Society of Arteriosclerosis, reviews the cardiovascular prevention activities of the regional health authorities, scientific societies and medical professionals. An initiation of a national strategy on cardiovascular prevention is proposed based on lifestyle modification (healthy diet, physical activity and smoking cessation) through actions in different settings. At the population level, regulation of food advertising, elimination of trans fats and reduction of added sugar are feasible and cost-effective interventions to help control dyslipidemias and reduce CVR. In the health setting, it is proposed to facilitate the application of guidelines, improve training for medical professionals, and include CVR assessment among the quality indicators. Scientific societies should collaborate with the health authorities and contribute to the generation and transmission of knowledge. Finally, it is in the hands of professionals to apply the concept of CVR, promote healthy lifestyles, and make efficient use of available pharmacological treatments.

This article contains a review of the main developments in cardiovascular disease prevention reported during the last year. In addition, the most recent clinical practice guidelines are also discussed. The aims of cardiovascular prevention are to reduce mortality and morbidity in individuals at a high risk and to help those at a low risk to maintain their status. Lifestyle modification and the reduction of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors are key to cardiovascular disease prevention. The implementation of clinical practice guidelines provides the primary means of achieving these goals.