The global burden of cardiovascular disease

Summary

According to the latest available statistics from the World Health Organisation, cardiovascular disease represents an ever-increasing burden on healthcare systems. While the primary prevention of any disease process is the ‘holy grail’, it cannot operate in a vacuum. Interventional therapies including post-interventional secondary care for stable angina, acute myocardial infarction and emerging therapies for stroke, peripheral vascular disease, heart failure and hypertension play an important often understated role. The pragmatic paradigm required to combat cardiovascular disease in the 21st century is one of a joint approach of primary care and effective interventional approaches. This annexe is intended to be a useful resource to illustrate these statistics and relative contribution of these different approaches.

Figures

Figure 1
Distribution of major causes of death worldwide (2008)

Figure 1 Distribution of major causes of death worldwide (2008)
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Figure 2
Description of CVD deaths in males (2008)

Figure 2 Description of CVD deaths in males (2008)
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Figure 3
Description of CVD deaths, females (2008)

Figure 4
Global distribution of CVD mortality rates in males (age standardised, per 100 000) [2008 data]