Preventive cardiovascular care for older people: fundamental for healthy ageing?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of mortality worldwide and accounts for over 50% of deaths in the European region. Prevention is key to reducing its impact and in the UK this has been enacted by the introduction of the NHS Health Check with the aim of detecting early disease and instigating optimal management to reduce cardiovascular risk factors. The program specifically targets people aged 40-74 years without known CVD and offers lifestyle advice and appropriate medication, for example, prescription of a statin, in accordance with current guidelines. Here, the efficacy of preventive intervention of CVD that is under-represented in research studies is discussed.