Question

A 52-year-old non-Indigenous man with no history of cardiovascular disease attends for a routine check. His blood pressure is 138/82 mmHg and fasting lipids are pending. According to current Australian cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines, what is the most appropriate approach to cardiovascular risk assessment for this patient?

Accepted Answer

Assess his 5-year absolute cardiovascular risk now using the Australian CVD Risk Calculator

Answer

Defer cardiovascular risk assessment until he is at least 60 years old

Answer

Assess cardiovascular risk only if his total cholesterol is above 7.5 mmol/L

Answer

Begin statin therapy immediately without formal risk assessment

Answer

Order an exercise stress test as the preferred risk assessment tool

Practice question