There are many factors that directly influence an individual's risk of developing cardiovascular disease. These risk factors can be considered as being either modifiable or non-modifiable.

Modifiable factors are those that can be changed, controlled or treated. Non-modifiable factors cannot be changed or controlled in any way. Pharmacists are ideally placed to identify and discuss modifiable risk factors with patients and to provide advice on how these risk factors can be reduced.

Some risk factors such as co-morbidities or socio-economic status do not fit easily into the modifiable or non-modifiable categories. In this module they have been considered as non-modifiable risk factors. Patients should be advised that effective control of co-morbidities, such as diabetes or hypertension, can reduce the associated risk.