Early Detection of Atherosclerosis: a Randomized Trial in the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases.

Early Detection of Atherosclerosis in the Primary Care Setting: a Randomized Trial to Assess the Efficacy of a Novel Strategy in the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases.

The incidence of cardiovascular diseases is still high and further efforts should be done in primary prevention. The main objective is to quantify the burden of subclinical atherosclerosis using non-invasive techniques,and to study the impact of this assessment and consequent treatment in the progression of atherosclerosis and in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases.

We will perform non-invasive techniques (carotid Intima-Media Thickness, CAC score and ankle-brachial index) to individuals at intermediate cardiovascular risk.With these results, we will classify participants in: no atherosclerosis, mild, moderate and severe atherosclerosis, and therapeutic targets will be set according to pre-defined algorithms. The end-point will be the course of atherosclerosis measured by cIMT/CAC score (2 years) and the incidence of CVD at 5 years of follow-up.

Inclusion Criteria

One or more of the following:

• Familiar History of early-onset cardiovascular disease (male < 55 or female < 65).
• Type 2 Diabetes mellitus or type 1 with microalbuminuria.
• Essential High Blood Pressure.
• Chronic Kidney Disease.
• Primary hyperlipidemia.

The presence of two or more of the following:

• Current smoker.
• Physical inactivity.
• High blood pressure (recently diagnosed).
• Abdominal perimeter: > 102 cm. males; > 88 cm. females.
• Total cholesterol > 240 mg/dL.
• HDL cholesterol ≤ 40 mg/dL males, ≤ 50 mg/dL females.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age < 40 or > 74 years old.
• Previous Cardiovascular Event.