What is the evidence that interventions for individuals lead to reductions in risk factors and cardiovascular disease outcomes?
The Task Force has systematically and critically reviewed the relevant literature to answer each question posed. Difficulties with regard to the current European Society of Cardiology (ESC) hierarchical grading system were raised. The present system is likely to favour drug treatments over major lifestyle measures because the latter are less amenable to double blind randomized control trials. For this reason, after prolonged debate, the Task Force has not included tables of the grades that it prepared. However, it is anticipated that this issue will require further debate. In formulating these updated guidelines on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, The Fourth Joint Task Force has taken note of feedback in several areas: • The guidelines are becoming long and unwieldy. Contributors were asked to summarize key points from the Third Joint Task Force Guidelines, but to focus on what is new. The full text of the Guidelines remains available on www.escardio.org. • More detailed guidan
