Cardiovascular Health
In 2001, 16.6 million deaths globally were due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD); this figure will increase to 25 million by 2025. The two leading causes of death worldwide are cardiovascular coronary heart disease (which causes heart attack and heart failure) and cerebrovascular disease (which causes stroke). The direct and indirect costs of CVD are high: enormous health care costs and productivity/income losses. Of all global deaths from CVD, 65 percent occur in developing countries. This will increase to 75 percent by 2025. By then, cardiovascular disorders will be the biggest cause of lost disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) worldwide, and the second leading cause of DALY loss in developing countries. In developing countries, cardiovascular diseases predominantly affect people of working age (30-64 years). Death and disability in middle age has major social and economic consequences Prevention or treatment of risk factors for CVD is effective and sustainable in the long run. The risk of CVD can be reduced quickly and substantially with successful preventive practices. This also has a favorable impact on other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that share the same risk factors. Treatment of established CVD is expensive and resource intensive. Unregulated private health systems tend to direct a large proportion of resources to costly cardiovascular technologies available only to the wealthy few.
Summary: | In 2001, 16.6 million deaths globally
were due to cardiovascular diseases (CVD); this figure will
increase to 25 million by 2025. The two leading causes of
death worldwide are cardiovascular coronary heart disease
(which causes heart attack and heart failure) and
cerebrovascular disease (which causes stroke). The direct
and indirect costs of CVD are high: enormous health care
costs and productivity/income losses. Of all global deaths
from CVD, 65 percent occur in developing countries. This
will increase to 75 percent by 2025. By then, cardiovascular
disorders will be the biggest cause of lost
disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) worldwide, and the
second leading cause of DALY loss in developing countries.
In developing countries, cardiovascular diseases
predominantly affect people of working age (30-64 years).
Death and disability in middle age has major social and
economic consequences Prevention or treatment of risk
factors for CVD is effective and sustainable in the long
run. The risk of CVD can be reduced quickly and
substantially with successful preventive practices. This
also has a favorable impact on other non-communicable
diseases (NCDs) that share the same risk factors. Treatment
of established CVD is expensive and resource intensive.
Unregulated private health systems tend to direct a large
proportion of resources to costly cardiovascular
technologies available only to the wealthy few. |
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