The recent proliferation of carefully controlled large scale clinical
trials, their meta-analyses and selective observational studies has
contributed to the remarkable strides made in the management of
cardiovascular disease. One of the prophesies stated in the first edition
of this textbook has come to pass – namely, that management
guided by external evidence is an evolving process as newer and
more effective treatment modalities come to light. While successful
as a critical approach for managing patients, evidence-based
medicine is nevertheless a work in progress which, if allowed to
rest on its laurels, will “by nature be threatened with impending
obsolescence”. In addition to keeping abreast of new information,
there is a need to integrate and distill the information into coherent
recommendations. Authors were therefore instructed to provide
their recommendations including those based on qualitative judgments.
The recognition of new developments in a rapidly changing
dynamic field combined with the overwhelmingly positive worldwide
response to the first edition have prompted the publication of
this second edition.