Role of smoking in U.S. CVD.

摘要

I applaud Health Affairs' attempts to bridge the chasm between the worlds of medical science and health policy. The recent thematic issue on cardiovascular disease (CVD) (Jan/Feb 07) was a logical place to start that effort. I hope, however, that the journal maintains a broad interpretation of both medical science and health policy and does not become overly focused on medical technologies. Forexample; the paper by Myron Weisfeldt and Sussan Zieman on advances in preventing and treating CVD fails to mention the most important and cost-effective step that clinicians can take: identifying smokers and helping them quit.