Patients (pts) with multiple risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are at the supreme priority for preventive cardiology. Therefore, under the auspices of the Ministry of Health in Poland, POLKARD-SPOK survey was performed to distinguish risk factors and describe their current management in relation to prevention of CVD. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the POLKARD-SPOK survey was to describe baseline characteristics, management practices and achievement of therapeutic goals in subgroups of high risk population of fatal CVD in accordance to ESC definition. METHODS: Data from representative sample of 1545 general practitioners, on 31,116 pts (mean age 63±2 years; 48.5% males) with documented CVD or high risk of atherothrombotic events were randomly selected from out-patients charts database and surveyed. Both pts and practitioner questionnaires prospectively collected data on cardiovascular risk factors, lifestyle, diagnostic procedures and medications applied. RESULTS: Among studied population prevalence of dyslipidemia amounted to 75.8%. 56.5% of pts had hypertension and 29.7% were diabetic. Thirty-four percent of pts were diagnosed as obese with additional 44.2% of the pts' population being overweight. The prevalence of current smokers was 17.5% in total study population and 15.8% in post myocardial infraction pts. Except ACEI (70.6% vs. 69.5%) drugs such as ASA, LBA, statins were more frequently applied in secondary prevention group when compared with primary prevention pts (respectively 54.9% vs. 85.8%, 41.9 vs. 77.0%, 53.8 vs. 79.4%). Underweight pts received fewer recommendations concerning regular physical activity, dietary counseling and weight loss when compared with obese pts (respectively 80.6% vs. 90.8%; 79.3% vs. 95.3%; 68.8% vs. 97.3%). CONCLUSION: The POLKARD-SPOK survey confirmed a high prevalence of modifiable risk factors and their inappropriate management, in patients with CVD or at high risk of fatal atherothrombotic events, treated in primary care settings.