Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Prevention Policy

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common term, which describes an illness of the heart or the blood vessels. CVD occurs due to the process of atherosclerosis and thrombosis. Coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, transient ischaemic attack (TIA), peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and aortic aneurysm belong to CVD. Why is CVD so important? It is associated with high mortality and morbidity in many parts of the world because, CVD kills about 17 million individuals worldwide every year. This number is also rising gradually. CVD causes one-third of premature deaths in males and one-fifth of premature deaths in females. CAD is the major single cause of death worldwide. One-sixth of CAD episodes present with unexpected death, which is a well-known feature of coronary artery disease.

There are some non-modifiable and modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Modifiable risk factors of CVD are the most important because, changing those risk factors can significantly lower the incidences of CVD.

Modifiable risk factors of CVD,

• Cigarette smoking
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Hyperlipidaemia (high blood cholesterol)
• Diabetes mellitus
• Obesity
• Unhealthy diet
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Psychological factors
• High levels of alcohol intake

The priorities for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention should be given to individuals with a higher risk of developing a CVD.

They are;

• People with established coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

• Asymptomatic people, who are at high risk of developing an atherosclerotic disease due to multiple risk factors leading to a 10-year CVD risk of more than five per cent now (or if extrapolated to age 60). Individuals with significantly elevated levels of single risk factors belong to this category.

• Cholesterol > 8mmol/L (310 mg/dL)
• LDL cholesterol > 6 mmol/L (232 mg/dL)
• Blood pressure > 180/110 mmHg

• All people with diabetes mellitus

• First-degree (close) relatives of:

• A person, who had coronary artery disease (CAD) before the age of 50 (early-onset).
• A symptomatic person, who is at a high risk.

• Other people found in routine medical practice

Related Links:

What Is Ischaemic Heart Disease?
Process of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis
Complications of Atherosclerosis
Introduction: Risk Factors of Atherosclerosis
Non-modifiable Risk Factors of CAD
Modifiable Risk Factors of CAD
Other Risk Factors of CAD