What is Cardiovascular Disease?

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of common conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels, including coronary artery disease and stroke. Many of these conditions can be directly linked to atherosclerosis (a build-up of plaque in arterial walls), however they can also stem from infection, particularly in developing countries.⁴   

The process of plaque formation leading to Atherosclerosis
http://mouseclique.jax.org/wp-content/uploads/Atherosclerosis1.jpg

What’s the problem?
With the frequency of cardiovascular disease skyrocketing; global health organisations are have begun serious discussions regarding management of this disease. Notably, in the last 10 or so years, CVD has become the primary cause of death worldwide. Responsible for 30% of global deaths and 50% of deaths attributable to non-communicable diseases.³ Traditionally, CVD was perceived an affliction of the wealthy; and thus only found in developed nations. Only recently have efforts been made to correct this misconception - shared by both the general public and world leaders. 

It is now well known that 80% of deaths worldwide, attributable to CVD, occur within middle to lower income countries.⁵ Notably those living in poverty within first world nations, including Australia, are also at a greater risk of CVD. Analysis of the distribution of CVD within established nations causes one to question how these people are slipping under the radar. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population of Australia are a prime example. In 2011 population studies found that Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander's had a 70% higher mortality rate than non-Aboriginal Australians in addition to exhibiting increased rates of circulatory problems. These statistics show that CVD is pertinent to all; as transcending both cultural and socio-economic boundaries. 

Deaths from cardiovascular disease by proportion from each country

http://www.worldmapper.org/display_extra.php?selected=451

Why is it happening?

Lifestyle factors such as diet, smoking and exercise are strong predictors of an individual’s risk of  CVD development. In affluent countries such as Australia, the USA and the UK people are increasingly making poor lifestyle choices, developing poor eating habits and leading more sedentary lifestyles. With an ever increasing array of fast food and disproportionate health education,  it’s easy to see how CVD has escalated globally. 

However, the obvious question arises - if this is mostly related to diet and lifestyle why are developing countries seeing a surge in CVD?

In recent times, there has been a transition towards urbanisation and industrialisation in many developing nations. With urbanisation of course comes access too cheaper, fast foods  and longer working hours, observed in their first world neighbors ⁴. Furthermore, these nations are still affected by many communicable diseases, which has previously been the primary cause of CVD. In regards to causation in Aboriginal Australians, the aetiological features are multifaceted and complex, existing at both individual and community levels. Several key issues are similar however, including sedentary behaviour, diet and smoking. This is highlighted by the fact that Aboriginal Australians are 2.4 times more likely to smoke and are 13% more likely to exhibit low levels of exercise than non-Aboriginal Australians.⁴

It’s clear that health inequality is widespread in respect to CVD both around the globe and locally. So in order to combat this issue, we will need to make changes of a global scale - starting with education and health literacy....

National Heart Foundation – Cardiovascular Disease Factsheet

http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/Factsheet-Cardiovascular-disease.pdf


Calculate your own risk of risk of developing cardiovascular disease
http://www.cvdcheck.org.au/

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey: First Results 2012-13. 2013 [cited 2015 Mar 16]; ABS cat. no. 4727.0.55.001. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au

2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Expenditure on health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 2006–07 [Internet]. 2009 [cited 2015 Mar 16]; AIHW cat. no. HWE 48. Available from: http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442468323

3. Bloom DE, Cafiero ET, Jané-Llopis E, Abrahams-Gessel S, Bloom LR, Fathima S, Feigl AB, Gaziano T, Mowafi M, Pandya A, Prettner K, Rosenberg L, Seligman B, Stein AZ, Weinstein C. The Global Economic Burden of Non-communicable Diseases. Geneva: World Economic Forum; 2011 Sep.

4. Celermajer DS, Chow CK, Marijon E, Anstey NM, Woo KS. Cardiovascular Disease in the Developing World : Prevalences, Patterns, and the Potential of Early Disease Detection. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2012 Oct;60(14):1207-1216.

5. Gershl BJ, Sliwa K, Mayosi BM, Yusuf S. The epidemic of cardiovascular disease in the developing world: global implications. Eur Heart J. 2010 Feb;31:642-8.