1 Introduction The leading cause of mortality and morbidity in developed countries is atherosclerotic disease of the cardiovascular system, and treatment thereof, takes up a major share of health care provider budgets. The treatment of medical conditions in a world of restricted resources is under constant scrutiny, specifically in the field of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The threshold to accept and support a specific treatment modality is based on evidence to improve the outcome of the disease. The treatment, however, should not only be aimed at mortality but also at the degree of chronic impairment. The World Health Organization (WHO) states in its statute that “health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease of infirmity” [ 1 ], and medical therapy should keep this in mind.