Personalized Primary Cardiovascular Prevention: The Convergences of Risk Scores, Coronary Calcium Scoring and Lipoprotein (a).

Abstract

Despite major advances in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD), it remains the leading cause of death worldwide, exceeding mortality attributable to COVID-19. Importantly, a substantial proportion of cardiovascular events are preventable, underscoring the critical importance of effective primary prevention. This brief review summarizes the latest European and American guideline recommendations, with a particular focus on cardiovascular risk assessment, the emerging roles of coronary artery calcium scoring, lipoprotein(a) and apolipoprotein B, and indications for statin therapy in the setting of primary cardiovascular prevention. In addition, it provides a practical, stepwise approach to assist clinicians in implementing individualized primary prevention strategies in routine practice.