If a patient has a high risk of cardiovascular disease, which factor needs to be absent to avoid requiring clearance for exercise?

For individuals with a high risk of cardiovascular disease, having evidence of disease or symptoms is a crucial factor in determining the need for medical clearance before engaging in exercise. If a patient presents with signs or conditions indicative of cardiovascular issues—such as chest pain, shortness of breath, or known heart conditions—clearance is necessary to ensure that exercise is safe and appropriate.

In contrast, the absence of evidence of disease or symptoms suggests that while the individual may still be at a higher risk due to other factors, they do not currently exhibit any active health complications that would contraindicate exercise. This allows for the possibility to initiate or continue an exercise program without requiring clearance from a physician.

Other factors, such as a history of a sedentary lifestyle, family history of cardiovascular events, or waist circumference measurements, while important in assessing overall risk, do not determine the immediate need for medical clearance in the same way that the presence of symptoms or disease does.