How do the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) and the American Heart Association (AHA) create clinical practice guidelines?
The ACCF/AHA Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Task Force) is charged with developing, updating, and revising practice guidelines for cardiovascular diseases and procedures. Experts in the subject under consideration are selected by the ACCF and AHA and partnered with representatives from other medical organizations to form writing committees. These committees are asked to perform a literature review, weigh the strength of evidence for or against particular tests, treatments, or procedures, and include estimates of expected outcomes where such data exist. Patient-specific modifiers, comorbidities, and issues of patient preference that may influence the choice of tests or therapies are also considered.