Introduction

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and in Brazil, leading to increased morbidity and disability-adjusted life year (DALY). Despite the decrease in mortality rates and DALY standardized by age in Brazil, possibly as a result of successful health policies, their total number is increasing, mainly due to aging and illnesses in the population.

Classical risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, sedentary lifestyle, smoking, diabetes, and family history) raise the pre-test probability of CVD – particularly of coronary artery disease (CAD) – and determine primary and secondary prevention. Several other factors, including sociodemographic, ethnic, cultural, dietary, and behavioral aspects, can also explain the differences in CVD burden among populations and their trends over the decades. The implementation of health policies, among them, encouraging healthy lifestyle habits and providing access to primary and secondary CVD prevention measures, associated with the treatment of cardiovascular (CV) events are essential to control CVD in all countries, including Brazil.

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