This guideline is divided into 4 basic sections summarizing the approaches to diagnosis, risk as- sessment, treatment, and follow-up. Five algorithms summa- rize the management of stable angina: diagnosis (Figure 2), risk assessment (Figure 3), GDMT (Figure 4), and revascu- larization (Figures 5 and 6). We readily acknowledge, how- ever, that in actual clinical practice, the elements comprising the 4 sections and the steps delineated in the algorithms often overlap and are not always separable. Some low-risk patients, for example, might require only clinical assessment to deter- mine that they do not need any further evaluation or treat- ment. Other patients might require only clinical assessment and further adjustment of medical therapy if their preferences and comorbidities preclude revascularization, thus obviating the necessity for risk stratification. The stress testing/angiog- raphy algorithm might be applicable for diagnostic purposes in patients with symptoms that suggest SIHD or to perform risk assessment in patients with established SIHD. 1.8. Vital Importance of Involvement by an Informed Patient: Recommendation Class I 1. Choices about diagnostic and therapeutic options should be made through a process of shared decision making involving the patient and provider, with the provider explaining information about risks, bene- fits, and costs to the patient. (Level of Evidence: C) In accordance with the principle of autonomy, the healthcare provider is obliged to solicit and respect the patient s prefer- ences about choice of therapy. Although this principle, in the setting of cardiovascular disease, has received only limited study, the concept of shared decision making increasingly is viewed as an approach that ensures that patients remain involved in key decisions. 