Editorial articles

The difficulty in delivering a viable primary prevention
policy has been evident ever since the publication of
the National Service Framework for Coronary Heart
Disease (NSF-CHD).

The measurement of biochemical markers of myocardial cell damage is a key component of modern cardiology practice. The use of these tests in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI) has been routine for three decades, with the measurement of serum levels of creatine kinase (CK) and its myocardial band isofraction (CK-MB) emerging as the traditional standard in this respect.

In this issue of Acute and Interventional Cardiology there is a commissioned editorial about the release of cardiac enzymes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This remains a contentious area and attracts the views of two opposing schools of thought.

The management of advanced heart failure when medical treatment alone is no longer sufficient was the focus of the 2003 British Society for Heart Failure (BSH) annual autumn meeting, held in Oxford on 28 November.

A joint British Journal of Cardiology and H.E.A.R.T UK round table meeting held at the National Heart and Lung Institute, 18th November 2003.

It seems ironic that, at a time of ultra-specialisation, when
the public is demanding higher standards from doctors,
academic medicine is being downgraded. Cardiac pathology
represents a perfect case in point.

The introduction of the first specialist registrar training programme in December 1995 brought a radical overhaul in higher specialist training. Each speciality produced a curriculum establishing specific training objectives against which the progress of an individual trainee could be judged.

The traditional role of the cardiac nurse, particularly at the inception of the coronary care unit (CCU), has been evolving since the early 60s.

Cardiac rehabilitation has historically been an underdeveloped service in the UK. It is now recognised as an essential component in the management of heart disease and will shortly encompass those at risk of developing cardiovascular disorders.

Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for vascular disease and its treatment to target requires not only careful monitoring with lifestyle advice and pharmacological intervention but also a good understanding of the condition by the patient.