Risk associated with subclinical disease measures has been shown to be graded and continuous (similar to risk associated with conventional CVD risk factors such as hypertension and cholesterol) rather than demonstrating a threshold level at which risk increases sharply. This suggests that interventions yielding even modest reductions in levels of subclinical disease should be explored for their potential impact on reducing CVD risk. To design such interventions, factors contributing to the development and progression of subclinical disease must be identified.