[From risk factors to symptomatic coronary artery disease. Update cardiology 2001/2002--part I].

The cardiovascular continuum describes the way from risk factors to atherosclerosis, acute cardiovascular events (unstable angina and myocardial infarction), and development of terminal heart failure and its complications. Following this way, advances are reported in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, in noninvasive diagnostics and revascularization of coronary artery disease, and in new therapeutic options of acute myocardial infarction. The following issues are reported in detail: (1) significance of statins, inhibition of platelet aggregation and vitamins in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, (2) comparison of the angiotensin receptor blocker losartan and the beta-blocker atenolol in hypertension (LIFE study), (3) magnetic resonance angiography for the detection of coronary stenoses, (4) advantages and disadvantages of operative and interventional coronary revascularization considering elderly patients and sirolimus-eluting stents, and (5) efficacy of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibition and low molecular weight heparin in acute myocardial infarction.