Abstract
Recent research has suggested that a number of new cardiovascular risk factors should be added to the ‘traditional’ risk factors of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, hyperglycaemia, nicotine poisoning, etc. Some of these non-conventional, ‘emergent’ conditions are related to plasma lipids whilst others, for example, markers of inflammation, homocysteinaemia, impaired fasting glycaemia and asymmetric dimethylarginine, are not. The emergent factors have obvious implications for preventative and therapeutic decisions. Physical exercise can have a modifying effect, though this is not, as yet, generally well known (especially with regard to homocysteinaemia and asymmetric dimethylarginine).
Highlights
A cardiovascular risk factor (CRF) is a biological characteristic or behaviour that increases the possibility of cardiovascular disease (CVD) [1]
The NCEP Panel III identifies three classes of CRFs that influence the possibilities of suffering CVD, only the first two are relevant to the modification of treatment objectives: major CRFs, factors linked to lifestyles and emergent risk factors
Levels of High-density lipoproteins (HDL) cholesterol are inversely related with the risk of CVD; they seem to play a protective role against the onset of atherosclerosis as they capture free cholesterol from the peripheric tissues such as the cells of the vascular wall
Summary
A cardiovascular risk factor (CRF) is a biological characteristic or behaviour that increases the possibility of cardiovascular disease (CVD) [1]. The NCEP Panel III identifies three classes of CRFs that influence the possibilities of suffering CVD, only the first two are relevant to the modification of treatment objectives: major CRFs, factors linked to lifestyles and emergent risk factors. Panel III recognises that, in addition to the main CRFs, CVD is influenced by the presence of other factors which modification can have a positive effect on some of the major CRFs and reduce risk; these represent direct treatment objectives. These factors act through other intermediate elements or worsen independent risk factors such as, obesity, sedentarism, a family history of premature CVD, psychosocial conditions or being male. They do not figure in algorithm calculations on the stratification of risk [6], two of them, obesity and sedentarism, are considered as causal CRFs by the American Heart Association
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