Juraj Bodnár, Peter Mitro
In effort to create practical guidelines (G) in the field of cardiovascular diseases American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) have joined together in 1980. The effort regulates ACC/AHA Task Force for using G mostly for clinical practice. The task is to develop and revise G in practice for important cardiovascular diseases and procedures. Selected experts from both organizations were accredited to inspect specific data related to this field of interest and create particular G for practice. Also further specialists from different medical and specific groups are involved into this process. Expert groups are expected to do formal literature survey, carefully consider the power of the evidence to use or not to use a specific treatment or procedure and incorporate assessment of expected medical results were data exist. Specific modifications, co-morbidity and patient’s preferences which could affect selection of particular tests and therapies are considered, as well as frequency of follow-up (FU) and costs effectiveness. The aim of G is to help doctors in their clinical assessment by describing a lot of accepted approaches to diagnosis, treatment or prevention of specific diseases or conditions. G try to define practices meeting needs of most of patients. Final decision about health care of the patient has to be done by the doctor and patient after all circumstances referred by the patient are considered.