Preventive Cardiology
Preventive cardiology is a subspecialty of cardiovascular medicine focused on lowering the risk of developing heart disease and its complications (heart attack, stroke, heart failure) in individuals who have not yet experienced a major cardiovascular event.
It emphasizes early detection, risk factor modification, and evidence-based interventions before clinical disease becomes manifest.
Key Features:
Lipid management: Aggressive treatment of high LDL cholesterol with statins, PCSK9 inhibitors, or newer agents in high-risk patients.
Hypertension control: Early and intensive blood pressure lowering to prevent target-organ damage.
Diabetes and prediabetes management: Use of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists for their proven cardioprotective effects.
Coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring: Using CT scans to detect subclinical atherosclerosis and guide intensity of therapy.
Inflammation assessment and treatment: Measuring hs-CRP and using anti-inflammatory therapies (e.g., colchicine) in select patients.
Lifestyle intervention clinics: Medically supervised programs combining exercise prescription, nutrition counseling, and smoking cessation.
Genetic dyslipidemia screening: Identifying familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) early and initiating cascade screening in families.
Cardiovascular risk calculators & polypills: Applying ASCVD risk estimation and using combination pills for patients with multiple risk factors.
The ultimate goal is to prevent the first heart attack or stroke rather than treating disease after it occurs.