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5 Whilst age is a known risk factor for the development of CVD, autopsy evidence suggests that the process of developing CVD in later years is not inevitable, 6 thus risk reduction is crucial. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimate that over 75% of premature CVD is preventable and risk factor amelioration can help reduce the growing CVD burden on both individuals and healthcare providers. 4 Not only is CVD a leading cause of mortality, but it is the leading cause of loss of disability-adjusted life years globally.
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Currently 80% of CVD mortality occurs in developing nations 3 and CVD is expected to be the major cause of mortality in most developing nations by 2020, overtaking infectious disease. 2 The rate of CVD worldwide is predicted to increase as the prevalence of risk factors for CVD rises in previously low-risk countries. In England CVD accounts for nearly 34% of all deaths, whilst the figure is approximately 40% in the European Union. Globally CVD accounts for 31% of mortality, the majority of this in the form of CHD and cerebrovascular accident. Previously fashionable ideas such as the polypill appear devoid of in-vivo efficacy, but there remain areas of future interest such as the benefit of serum urate reduction and utility of reduction of homocysteine levels.Ĭardiovascular disease (CVD) is an umbrella term for a number of linked pathologies, commonly defined as coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, rheumatic and congenital heart diseases and venous thromboembolism. Strong consensus exists between international guidelines regarding the necessity of smoking cessation, weight optimisation and the importance of exercise, whilst guidelines vary slightly in their approach to hypertension and considerably regarding their approach to optimal lipid profile which remains a contentious issue. The burden of cardiovascular disease can be ameliorated by careful risk reduction and, as such, primary prevention is an important priority for all developers of health policy. It is also of particular and pressing interest as developing countries experience a change in lifestyle which introduces novel risk factors for cardiovascular disease, leading to a boom in cardiovascular disease risk throughout the developing world. Cardiovascular disease is a significant and ever-growing problem in the United Kingdom, accounting for nearly one-third of all deaths and leading to significant morbidity.