Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Treatment Protocol for Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is the common pathological basis of various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. It is characterized by insidious onset, slow progression, extensive vascular involvement, and a high risk of disability and death, posing a serious threat to public health and increasing the social and healthcare burden. At present, the integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis continues to evolve; however, there remains a need to further develop a diagnostic and therapeutic protocol that reflects the characteristics of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation, the synergistic advantages of integrated Chinese and Western medicine, and the requirements of standardized clinical management. Therefore, this protocol systematically summarizes recent research advances in the integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and comprehensive management of atherosclerosis. In conjunction with domestic and international guidelines and expert consensus, as well as expert clinical experience, this protocol reviews and updates key aspects including diagnostic assessment, syndrome differentiation, traditional Chinese medicine treatment, standardized Western medical treatment, and preventive care, thereby formulating a protocol for the integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis. The aim is to further standardize integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine clinical practice for atherosclerosis, improve comprehensive prevention and treatment, delay disease progression, and reduce the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.