The rising epidemic of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus threatens to attenuate the advancements that have been made in the treatment and mortality reduction of coronary artery disease. Gaps remain in the physicians’ ability to identify patients who are at an increased cardiovascular risk, particularly in emerging at-risk groups such as individuals with chronic infectious and inflammatory disorders. Early identification and treatment of these patients may lower the incidence of cardiovascular disease in the future.

The last decade has seen an explosion of research in the area of cardiovascular risk assessment, from the Framingham risk score to the Pooled Cohort Equations risk assessment tool, as well as the application of various cardiac imaging and biomarker tools to aid risk assessment. These include the coronary artery calcium scoring test as well as the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein test among others. Still, the most accurate method for assessing risk is yet to be developed. This topic has major public health implications and the ability to significantly reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular mortality on the population.

Our aim is to provide a contemporary update of the current state of algorithmic assessment of cardiovascular risk for the primary prevention of coronary artery disease, as well as the potential for cardiac imaging and biomarkers to improve current algorithms of risk assessment and treatment options. We hope to attract both primary research articles and review articles, which provide further insight into this topical and rapidly developing research area.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Coronary artery disease risk assessment algorithms
• Coronary artery calcium
• High sensitivity C-reactive protein
• Ankle brachial pressure index
• Carotid ultrasound
• Coronary artery disease risk assessment in specific high-risk populations, e.g., HIV, kidney disease, and inflammatory disorders
• Nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors for coronary artery disease
• New and emerging tools for coronary artery disease risk assessment, including, but not limited to, thoracic artery calcification and breast artery calcification