From the Guidelines
Tertiary prevention is the type of prevention that aims to prevent a disease from becoming worse or decrease complications after the disease has already developed and caused significant damage. This type of prevention focuses on reducing the impact of established disease and associated disabilities, as stated in the standards of medical care for type 2 diabetes in China 2019 1. The goal of tertiary prevention is to delay the progression of diabetic complications, reduce morbidity and mortality, and improve the patients' quality of life. Some key measures of tertiary prevention include:
- Referring patients to specialists for treatment promptly following identification of severe chronic diabetic complications 1
- Implementing management strategies for existing conditions, such as blood pressure monitoring and medication for hypertension patients, or regular blood glucose testing and insulin management for diabetics
- Providing rehabilitation programs after a heart attack or other significant medical events It is essential to note that tertiary prevention differs from primary prevention, which aims to prevent disease occurrence, and secondary prevention, which focuses on early detection and prompt treatment to halt or slow disease progression and prevent complications. In the context of diabetes management, lifestyle changes, such as reduced calorie intake, a Mediterranean diet, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, are also crucial in preventing the progression of the disease and its cardiovascular complications 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The primary endpoint was the occurrence of any of the major cardiovascular events: myocardial infarction, acute CHD death, unstable angina, coronary revascularization, or stroke. The answer is: Secondary prevention.
- This type of prevention aims to decrease the complications of a disease that has already occurred.
- The use of statins, as described in the drug label, is an example of secondary prevention, as it reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events in patients with existing cardiovascular disease or risk factors. 2 2
From the Research
Prevention of Disease
The prevention of disease from becoming worse or decreasing complications is known as tertiary prevention.
- Tertiary prevention manages the consequences of diseases by restoring health and providing rehabilitation 3.
- This type of prevention focuses on preventing the progression of diseases and reducing complications, which is essential for maintaining the quality of life and reducing mortality rates.
- Tertiary prevention is crucial in managing chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease, which are commonly occurring and interlinked conditions 4.
- The goal of tertiary prevention is to prevent complications, such as macrovascular and microvascular pathologic changes, and to reduce the risk of hospitalization and mortality 5, 4.
- Lifestyle medicine, which comprises six pillars, including nutrition, physical activity, sleep health, stress reduction, social connections, and substance use, can be an effective approach to tertiary prevention by addressing the root causes of chronic diseases 6.