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Primary prevention of cardiovascular (CV) disease often fails because of poor adherence to evidence-based guidelines by both patients and clinicians. Might visual representations of patients' existing atherosclerosis increase adherence to preventive guidelines?
Researchers randomized 3532 participants (age, >60; or age, >40 with ≥1 conventional CV risk factor) in a Swedish population-based CV prevention program to undergo carotid ultrasound examinations and to either receive or not receive a visual report of the results. Each patient's report displayed a stylized representation of the ultrasound image and a gauge that compared vascular age with chronological age. Patients who received visual reports also received reinforcing phone calls from…