Wiek naczyń — u kogo i jak go oceniać? Czy możemy „odmłodzić” naczynia naszych pacjentów?

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Total cardiovascular risk assessment plays a key role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). It facilitates identification of patients with increased CVD risk and allows to plan appropriate actions to reduce or eliminate risk factors. The SCORE chart is a practical tool for estimation of individual 10-year risk of fatal CVD. However, in young patients with risk factors, the absolute risk calculated with the SCORE chart may be low despite significantly elevated relative risk. In this group of patients, assessment of cardiovascular risk age (heart age, vascular age) may be useful for identification of individuals in whom intensive preventive measures should be implemented. These measures should focus on reducing existing risk factors, which in some patients might require the use of pharmacotherapy. Statins were proven to be effective in CVD risk reduction, including primary prevention. Statins significantly lower concentrations of low-density lipoproteins, which are crucial for the development of atherosclerosis. Moreover, beyond their cholesterol- -lowering properties, statins exert pleiotropic effects, leading to inhibition or even partial reversal of unfavorable changes within the vessel wall, and to a reduction of cardiovascular risk age.