Medical management of risk factors for vascular disease

Vascular disease refers to the systemic condition of atherosclerosis that may be manifested by a variety of systematic symptoms and signs. It encompasses peripheral arterial disease (PAD), aortic aneurysms, carotid arterial disease, ischaemic heart disease and conditions such as atherosclerotic renal arterial stenosis. It is now recognized that conditions such as intermittent claudication, a manifestation of PAD, carry prognostic significance for myocardial infarct, stroke and cardiovascular mortality, and this has resulted in increased emphasis on identification and management of the risk factors for vascular disease. Principal modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis include smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia and hyperhomocysteinaemia. These factors should be treated aggressively in patients with vascular disease. This article reviews the medical management of risk factors for vascular disease.