INFORMATION NEEDED TO DECIDE ABOUT CARDIOVASCULAR TREATMENT IN PRIMARY-CARE

There is growing consensus that treatment of cardiovascular risks shou ld be based on multiple rather than single factors and on absolute rat her than relative risks. Thresholds for treatment should reflect the l evel of absolute risk at which the benefits and hazards of treating ou tweigh the benefits and hazards of not treating. Once a decision has b een made to initiate a treatment programme, clinicians need to know th e patient's absolute risk. At this level of risk, do the benefits of t reatment outweigh the hazards? Given this information, which treatment option does the patient prefer? Using cardiovascular disease as an ex ample, I review some measures that assist decision making in primary c are. Practice guidelines should routinely include accessible presentat ion of treatment outcomes on benefit, hazard, and costs for a range of absolute risks. These measures enable patients and their doctors to w eigh the pros and cons of treatment in their particular circumstances.