This is a highly practical resource focusing on the application of current guidelines and practice standards in the clinical management of cardiovascular risk factors. It reflects the most current information and clinical practices, including the growing number of biomarkers and genetic variants that have greatly changed the understanding of the pathophysiology of cardiovascular risk. The primer presents concise descriptions of each major cardiovascular risk factor, key methodologies in cardiovascular risk assessment, special issues in risk assessment of specific patient populations, and practical, to-the-point discussions of current best practices in clinical management.