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Cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for significant morbidity and premature mortality in Australia. In 2020, ischaemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease were two of the top three most common causes of death nationally.

A person's risk of developing CVD depends on the combined effect of multiple factors influencing risk, including a broad range of social and environmental determinants within and across populations. Risk assessment integrating multiple factors is fundamental to the primary prevention of CVD and superior in predicting risk compared with assessment of single risk factors in isolation.2 It supports shared decision making with patients about their cardiovascular risk, helps target pharmacotherapy to those who will benefit most, and informs clinical decision making.

This MJA Guideline Summary shares more.

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Authors: Mark R Nelson, Emily Banks, Alex Brown, Clara K Chow, David P Peiris, Nigel P Stocks, Rebecca Davies AO, Natalie Raffoul, Lisa Kalman, Emily Bradburn and Garry Jennings

Article Type: Guideline Summary