[Does a "therapeutic memory" exist in cardiovascular prevention?].

The prevention of type 2 diabetes and of cardiovascular diseases is a major public health objective. Obviously life-style changes play a major role in this strategy. The Finnish Prevention Study recently demonstrated that the remarkable diabetes prevention observed after a 4-year lifestyle intervention is maintained after a further 3-year period of follow-up without prolongation of the active intervention. Such a reminiscent effect may also be observed in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases with various pharmacological interventions: an ACE inhibitor (HOPE), a statin (4S), a fibrate (Helsinki Heart Study) or an intensive insulin therapy in type I diabetic patients (DCCT-EDIC). These intriguing results argue for a long-term memory of previous therapeutic interventions in cardiovascular prevention.