Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in People Affected with Diabetes in Primary Care

Several studies suggest that the cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality rates of persons with type 2 diabetes are about two to four times higher than those of the general popula‐ tion. It is therefore considered necessary to develop specific tools to evaluate and reduce CVD risk in this population. In the present chapter, main CVD risk scores were explored: from the Framingham study developed in the 1960s to the last diabetes-specific models, passing through the concept of diabetes as a “CVD risk equivalent”. The scores devel‐ oped in Italian population were specifically explored. The Italian experience, according to other countries, emphasizes that it may be appropriate for each country to validate exist‐ ing models and eventually to adapt them to the different settings to improve targeted risk management.