Description
Coronary heart disease remains the commonest cause
of death in Western countries with the incidence rising
in developing countries. It is part of the spectrum of
cardiovascular diseases which have common end points
of myocardial infarction, stroke and death. As these
end points frequently occurs suddenly and often in those
with no known disease, it is important to identify
individuals at higher risk so that preventative measures
can be instituted. This article discusses the rational of
cardiovascular risk assessment, traditional clinical risk
assessment methods and their limitations, and the role
of Computed Tomography (CT) for identifying patients
at risk.
