'Although the probability of suffering a cardiovascular event is determined by a series of broad factors (some of which are not even known yet), the results obtained in the INTERHEART study point out to the relevance of a change in life style (quit smoking, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, moderate alcohol consumption.) and the correction of modifiable risk factors of easy clinical identification (hypertension, lipemia, diabetes and obesity) it is possible to reduce in around 90% the probability of suffering an infarction.

'These data emphasize the importance of putting in clinical practices interventions which may exert a multifactor benefit although it is important to guarantee the individual control of each of those factors' states doctor José Ramón González Juanatey, Cardiology chair and Department Director of the Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago de Compostela , in Galicia, Spain.

Since there are various factors associated in the genesis of a cardiovascular event and no tests are available which allow to measure the importance of each of those factors to reduce the probability of suffering an infarction or another cardiovascular event, 'specially concerning hypertension, which could be considered the most important factor in clinical practice, even though it is so because of its high prevalence' assures González Juanatey.

In fact, Spanish patients which have suffered a cardiovascular event of atherothrombotic nature (ischemic cardiopathy and cerebrovascular disease) are usually obese patients and specially hypertensive. 'Thus the control of hypertension constitutes one of the main foundations in the prevention of cardiovascular incidents the world round and also in our country' adds the specialist.

Objective: cardiovascular prevention

Hypertension as well as the rest of the risk factors associated with cardiovascular pathologies may be adequately controlled by putting into practice healthy life habits as confirmed in the INTERHEART study. Besides being able to reduce a cardiovascular event in 90% it reveals that quitting smoking diminishes this risk by 50%.

'Also it is convenient to battle bad habits such as obesity, sedentary behavior or a diet which is poor in fruits, fish and vegetables' claims González Juanatey. He also considers that arterial pressure control, plasmatic lipids and glucose metabolism as well as the ingestion of aspirin are the pillars of primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention, even though the therapeutic objectives and concrete medications depend on the individual characteristics of each patient.

"También sería conveniente combatir hábitos nocivos como la obesidad, el sedentarismo o la alimentación escasa en fruta, verdura y pescado", afirma González Juanatey, que considera que el control de presión arterial, de lípidos plasmáticos y del metabolismo de la glucosa, así como la ingesta de aspirina, son los pilares de la prevención cardiovascular, tanto primaria como secundaria, si bien la indicación de objetivos terapéuticos y fármacos concretos depende de las características individuales de cada paciente.