Cardiovascular risk management is a major and challenging task for internists. Risk scores using algorithms based on traditional risk factors are helpful in identifying patients in whom intensive prevention strategies are warranted. However there remains a need for more accurate screening tools to allow clinicians to individualize the primary prevention programs to their patients.Approximately 40–80% of apparently healthy, asymptomatic subjects exhibit increased thickness of the lamina intima-media of the carotid artery or have atherosclerotic carotid plaques.
