DEFINITION

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) encompasses: coronary heart disease (CHD) including asymptomatic disease or manifestations of angina, myocardial infarction, or sudden death due to underlying coronary artery disease; congestive heart failure (CHF) ; valvular heart disease; and cerebrovascular disease (stroke).
• Coronary artery disease (CAD) includes disease of the coronary arteries: epicardial coronary arteries, branching arteries, and subendocardial vessels.
• Even in the absence of known CVD, the American Diabetes Association,the American Heart Association, and the American College of Cardiology identify diabetes as a high-risk condition for macrovascular disease.