More than 500 articles especially written by colleagues to support your care of patients with the 
Approaches to the prevention of cardiovascular disease should be tailored to each individual. But almost everyone will benefit from lifestyle interventions that have been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk.
CVD prevention: It all starts with lifestyle
The size of the prize: Doing things differently to improve CVD outcomes
In 2014, the Five-Year Forward View articulated clearly that, if the NHS is to be sustainable, it needs to get serious about prevention. The initial focus was on diabetes prevention; now the national prevention focus has switched to prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Make every contact count for CVD prevention
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a significant cause of disability and death in the UK, and it is one of the conditions most strongly associated with health inequalities. We can help reduce the CVD burden by reminding our patients of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
Ischaemic heart disease: One of the biggest killers
Ischaemic or coronary heart disease is the single leading cause of death in any Western population but more critically is one of the leading causes of premature deaths (i.e. deaths 75 years) in both men and women. There are numerous risk factors for ischaemic heart disease and understanding these and other comorbidities is critical to achieving optimal outcomes.
A review of stroke prevention in 8 primary care practices
GP practices have a central role in the prevention of stroke. This review assessed the adequacy of primary and secondary preventive interventions that were provided for patients who were on the stroke register between January 2009 to December 2012, in the six months before and after a stroke. Eight GP practices in a deprived locality of North London participated in the review.
Case study: Atrial fibrillation
This case study describes the diagnosis and management of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a 70-year old obese male who was referred for cardiac assessment after developing shortness of breath, which had worsened progressively over the previous three months. The case study highlights the role of thromboembolic risk reduction which is the cornerstone of AF management and which can only be achieved with proper anticoagulation.
Sponsored Feature – Heart valve disease is a ticking time bomb: The time to listen to the heart is now
Heart valve disease is an often neglected chronic condition that is found incidentally through investigation of other conditions, such as echocardiography of a patient with suspected heart failure. However, with the ageing population the prevalence of valve disease is likely to explode over the coming decades.
Back to Basics: How atrial fibrillation develops
This month’s Back to Basics feature is a useful wallchart showing the differences between normal heart rhythm and atrial fibrillation. The chart also includes a list of controllable and non-controllable risk factors for atrial fibrillation.
HRT and cardiovascular disease
HRT has been shown to reduce future risk of cardiovascular disease when taken within ten years of the menopause. Some experts recommend that HRT is considered as part of a general prevention strategy at the onset of the menopause. However, some doctors and nurses feel apprehensive about this as they are confused about the association of HRT with cardiovascular disease.
Dementia – the forgotten cardiovascular disease
In general, deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) are falling, except for the forgotten CVD, dementia. The rate of dementia is rising year on year and it is now one of the top 5 causes of death in the UK. Risk factors for dementia are similar to other CVDs and risk modification can reduce the risk of development of the condition.
Cardiovascular risk in the elderly
The incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular diseases increase in older adults and are a common cause of morbidity and mortality. This article by Dr David Milne examines whether we can reduce cardiovascular risk in the elderly, and if so, should we try to do so?
Using the novel oral anticoagulants in primary care
Stroke related to atrial fibrillation can be prevented effectively through the use of anticoagulants. This article reviews recent guidelines, clinical trials and real-world evidence with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with AF and provides practical guidance on the use of these newer agents in primary care.
