The Esc Textbook of Preventive Cardiology

Covering both principles and practice, The ESC Textbook of Preventive Cardiology is a 'state of the art' resource for both the primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Comprehensive, practical and extensively linked to practice guidelines and recommendations from the European Association of Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation (EACPR), it clearly connects the latest evidence base to strategies and proposals for the implementation of prevention in clinical practice.

With a strong clinical focus the topics covered range from epidemiology and risk stratification through psychological factors, behaviour and motivation to secondary prevention, integrating hospital-based and community care for cardiovascular disease prevention and information on cardio-protective drugs. Case studies, clinical decision-making trees and drug tables with recommended doses and potential side-effects make it easier than ever to implement treatments in practice.

Drawing together current knowledge and evidence, and examining all aspects of preventive cardiology in one succinct volume, The ESC Textbook of Preventive Cardiology is the ideal guide for the physician and allied health professional working to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease in their daily practice.

Stephan Gielen, Heart Centre, University of Leipzig, Germany,Guy De Backer, Division of Cardiology, University of Ghent, Belgium,Massimo Piepoli, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK,David Wood, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, UK

Stephan Gielen is an Associate Professor, Head of the Heart Failure Programme and an interventional cardiologist at the Heart Centre of the University of Leipzig. He is President-elect of the European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, Speaker of the Working Group of Preventive Cardiology of the German Society of Cardiology, and Vice Speaker of the Working Group on Cardiac Diseases in the Elderly. After his medical education at the University of Bochum, Germany, Harvard Medical School, Boston, and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, US, he started his internship at Heidelberg University before moving to Leipzig in 1997. There he joined the research group of Professor Rainer Hambrecht, focusing on the pathophysiology of exercise intolerance in chronic heart failure (CHF) and exercise interventions in stable CHF patients.

Guy De Backer graduated as medical doctor at Ghent University in 1968. He holds a special degree in cardiology and in cardiac rehabilitation and he was awarded with an additional degree in public health. From 1973 until 1988 he was a permanent research fellow at the National Fund for Scientific Research (Belgium). In 1979 he was awarded with a PhD in epidemiology at Ghent University. From 1988 onwards he was professor of medicine at Ghent University chairing the Department of Public Health from 1989-2009 and the Cardiac Rehabilitation center of the University Hospital from 1983-2009. He is the author or co-author of more than 405 publications in journals cited in SCI, SSCI or AHCI, 120 papers in other journals and more than 40 chapters in books.

Guy De Backer is a member and the past-chairman of the Superior Health Council in Belgium (1996-2009) and a member and the past-president of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium (2007-2010).


Professor Massimo F Piepoli is a Honorary Clinical Senior Lecturer at Imperial College.


David Wood is the Garfield Weston Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the International Centre for Circulatory Health, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, and Honorary Consultant Cardiologist to Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
With a special interest in prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD), Professor Wood has developed Guidelines on CVD prevention for the World Health Organisation, European Society of Cardiology and the British Cardiovascular Society. He has contributed to policy development through the European Heart Health Initiative, leading to the St Valentines Day declaration on CVD Prevention, and subsequently the European Heart Health Charter, which aims to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease through political advocacy.