Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment is a central part of the strategy for identification and treatment of high-risk cases, as was recognised in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on lipid modification. A national strategy devised by the Department of Health for screening all individuals aged between 40 and 75 years exists in the UK though implementation and uptake have been variable. Unfortunately, in screening programmes the greatest uptake tends to be among the white population, wealthier people and women rather than among those groups in which CVD is over-represented: men, poor individuals and those from ethnic minorities. This has posed a great challenge to risk screening but non-traditional approaches including those in places of worship, pharmacies and communally-led initiatives seem to lead to greater success.
