Analysis of clinical practice guidelines for cardiovascular disease prevention

Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of deaths and one of the most common causes of hospitalization in the Czech Republic. Due to the high increase in cardiovascular diseases, preventive measures to eliminate them were defined. One of the methods of prevention is the systematic clinical practice guideline focused on identifying and influencing cardiovascular risks. The aim of the survey study is to analyze the existing clinical practice guidelines aimed at preventing cardiovascular diseases. On the basis of keywords and specific criteria for the research strategy and classification, the researchers searched in electronic databases and websites of professional companies systematically all available clinical practice guidelines aimed at preventing cardiovascular diseases published between the years 2003–2013. Defined entry criteria were met by twelve clinical practice guidelines. There were four documents excluded on the basis of the specific exclusion criteria. The process of analysis was applied to eight clinical practice guidelines. The analysis was performed in preventive measures, methods of determining and influencing cardiovascular risk, implemented scoring system, sub-components of non-pharmacological interventions, the level of evidence, grades of recommendation and scope of the document. Given the socio-economic and organizational conditions in the Czech Republic, the most appropriate seem to be the clinical European guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice (European Society of Cardiology), which were primarily designed for European countries. The European recommendations are also reflected by the Czech Clinical Guidelines for Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases with a specific algorithm for determining cardiovascular risk in Czech population.