Cholesterolemia Control In Spain, 2000. A tool for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

Abstract

The report "Cholesterolemia Control In Spain, 2000. A tool for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention" reviews current evidence on cardiovascular prevention and therapeutical advances occurred in the last years, in order to help overall risk-based clinical decision-making. Cardiovascular disease ranks as the first cause of death in Spain, accounting for almost 40% of total mortality. During the last years age-adjusted cardiovascular death rates have been declining, but the absolute number of deaths by coronary heart disease is ascending due mainly to the population aging. Coronary heart disease is the first cause of hospital consultation due both to the lesser coronary heart disease mortality and to the increase in coronary heart disease incidence. The demographic, health and social impact of cardiovascular disease is increasing and it is likely to go on in the next decades. Appropriate treatment of high blood cholesterol and of other major modifiable risk factors is crucial for preventing cardiovascular disease. Specific actions to carry out depend on the risk to get ill. Individual risk stratification is essential as it determines the follow up periodicity and treatment intensity. Priorities of control of cholesterolemia and its consequent risk are based on risk stratification. The groups for intervention are ordered in a descendent priority hierarchy as follows: 1. - Secondary prevention: Patients with established coronary heart disease or other atherosclerotic disease. 2. - Primary prevention: Healthy individuals who are at high risk of developing coronary heart disease or other atherosclerotic disease, because of a combination of risk factors – including lipids (raised total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol, low HDL-cholesterol and raised triglycerides), ...