The Role of Primary Care in Achieving Life’s Essential 8: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Abstract

To reduce morbidity and mortality rates of cardiovascular disease, an urgent need exists to improve cardiovascular health among US adults. In 2022, the American Heart Association issued Life’s Essential 8, which identifies and defines 8 health behaviors and factors that, when optimized through a combination of primary prevention, risk factor management, and effective treatments, can promote ideal cardiovascular health. Because of its central role in patient care across the life span, primary care is in a strategic position to promote Life’s Essential 8 and improve cardiovascular health in the United States. High-quality primary care is person-centered, team-based, community-aligned, and designed to provide affordable optimized health care. The purpose of this scientific statement from the American Heart Association is to provide evidence-based guidance on how primary care, as a field and practice, can support patients in implementing Life’s Essential 8. The scientific statement aims to describe the role and functions of primary care, provide evidence for how primary care can be leveraged to promote Life’s Essential 8, examine the role of primary care in providing access to care and mitigating disparities in cardiovascular health, review challenges in primary care, and propose solutions to address challenges in achieving Life’s Essential 8.