20 Mar 2026

Cardiovascular health remains a major priority for UK primary care

Ben Globe
In UK primary care, cardiovascular disease prevention remains a core clinical priority.

NHS England identifies atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure and high cholesterol as the key “ABC” conditions that drive cardiovascular risk and prevention work across the NHS (NHS England, 2026). This focus is reflected in the 2026 Primary Care Show programme, which includes CVD and Women’s Health at 09:15 on 20 May 2026 and Barriers to Good Lipid Management at 10:15 in the GP Clinical Theatre.

The UK clinical direction is also clear in NICE guidance. NICE recommends using QRISK3 to estimate 10-year cardiovascular risk in adults without established CVD, and advises offering atorvastatin 20 mg for primary prevention to people with a 10-year QRISK3 score of 10% or more (NICE, 2023). For UK clinicians, that keeps cardiovascular prevention firmly at the centre of everyday practice (NICE, 2023).

https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/clinical-policy/cvd/ (accessed 18/03/2026)

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng238/chapter/Recommendations (accessed 18/03/2026)

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng238/resources/cardiovascular-disease-risk-assessment-and-reduction-including-lipid-modification-pdf-66143902851781 (accessed 18/03/2026)

Loading