Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States,1 and this edition of FP Essentials provides updates on this critical topic. Section 1 covers peripheral artery disease. Section 2 addresses coronary artery disease risk assessment and noninvasive testing. Section 3 is about medical management of chronic coronary disease. Section 4 provides an update on heart failure. In all four sections, common themes are presented. Lifestyle interventions are key to prevention and management, including regular exercise, healthy eating, not smoking, and maintaining optimal ranges for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, and weight. Some approaches to pharmacotherapy have been around for years, whereas others are relatively new. I hope you find this edition of FP Essentials helpful in your practice. When you have finished studying and are ready to submit your answers to the test questions, please let us know what was most useful and what we can do to improve. We look forward to hearing your ideas for topics you would like to see covered in future editions.
Karl T. Rew, MD, Associate Medical Editor
Clinical Associate Professor, Departments of Family Medicine and Urology
University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor
