Digital health for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease: Promise to practice

Abstract

Within the United States health care system, conflicts between incentives and goals have limited the efficacy of primary preventive strategies. An abundance of literature indicates that future risk may be substantially modifiable through optimization of blood lipid levels, blood pressure, glycemic control, weight, diet, physical activity, sleep, and tobacco abstinence. Although guidelines from cardiovascular professional societies recommend comprehensively addressing these factors to reduce cardiovascular disease risk, in practice, an exceedingly small proportion of the general population achieves target goals across all measures.