According to the AHA, within 6 years after a myocardial infarction, 18% of men and 35% of women will have a recurrent myocardial infarction, 7% of men and 6% of women will experience sudden death, and 22% of men and 46% of women will be disabled with heart failure.

Medical treatments that target the underlying atherosclerosis disease process can markedly lower the risk of recurrent cardiovascular events and death. Clinical trials have demonstrated significant risk reductions with aspirin, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, and statins in patients with established coronary heart disease.

Failure to implement these effective therapies when guided by conventional care has resulted in large numbers of patients at unnecessarily high risk. Over 2.5 million patients are hospitalized each year with coronary heart disease, but the majority do not receive the optimal treatments proven to reduce events and save lives. 

A review of CAD patient treatment rates at the UCLA Medical Center in 1992 and 1993 revealed a significant treatment gap when guided by conventional care.