Individualised screening intervals would lead to more effective cardiovascular disease prevention

A new study suggests that screening cardiovascular disease risk should be based on individual risk level and says that this could be achieved without increased health costs. Currently, guidance from the American Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology, and NHS recommend a 5-yearly health check interval for screening of individuals at high cardiovascular disease risk. This health check covers the measurement of a variety of risk factors including systolic blood pressure, cholesterol profile, blood glucose, and smoking status. If lifestyle interventions are inadequate to reduce the risk, the guidelines recommend primary preventive medication such as statins. However, the 5-yearly screenings are