Cardiovascular
A preventable, leading cause of mortality and morbidity
Each year, nearly 17 million* deaths worldwide are as a result of cardiovascular disease CVD (particularly heart attacks and strokes), making CVD the leading cause of death. Research over the past two decades has led to greater clarity on how end-stage heart disease is caused.
*The World Health Report 2004; Ezzati M. Lancet 2003;362:271–280
Yach D, et al. New Engl J Med 2004;291:2616–2620
Information on cardiovascular disease
Half of CVD deaths are from coronary artery disease and one-third of CVD deaths are caused by stroke. WHO standardised data from several countries in the Middle East and Africa, regarding mortality from cardiovascular diseases, showed that the rates of CVD mortality in Africa and the Middle East are much higher versus western countries. Prevalence of CVD in the region corresponds to the prevalence of common risk factors for the disease which include smoking, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and unhealthy lifestyle choices. Additionally, a lack of awareness regarding the risk factors, comorbidities and treatment solutions has added to the burden of the disease in the Middle East and North Africa.
Treating risk factors to decrease CVD susceptibility
The progression of CVD can be regarded as a continuum: from the onset of hypertension, increased low-density lipoproteins and type 2 diabetes, through to atherosclerosis and cardiac remodelling, to end-organ failure with resultant myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure and end-stage renal disease.
Treatment of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease is crucial to derailing the advancement of the disease, and as a result, can prevent comorbidities and mortality from CVD.
Based on the evidence that the risk of a cardiovascular event increases with the number of cardiovascular risk factors present, our products have been developed to treat risk factors and are aimed at prevention.
Boehringer Ingelheim’s Angels initiative aims to improve the treatment of stroke by providing doctors with the necessary tools, resources and support they need to optimize and set up acute stroke networks and develop stroke centers.
The angel’s initiative protocols can help set up a standardized system within a stroke unit to be able to increase the percentage of thrombolysis and saved patients; hopefully, with no mortality or least disability.
In the Angel’s initiative, Boehringer Ingelheim places high importance on establishing a culture of continuous quality monitoring right from the start of the project. Experience has shown that quality monitoring and regular review of quality parameters by the entire stroke team at weekly or monthly meetings are directly related with improvement of processes.
Probably the most important difference in the Angel’s initiative approach is that we don’t only provide participating hospitals with some of the tools needed like protocols, trainings and educational materials, but we also support them in identifying the issues and implementing the project every step of the way to come up with a qualified stroke center.
Across Middle East and North Africa (MENA), stroke is increasingly becoming a major health problem, with projections that deaths from it will nearly double by 2030. The incidence of stroke has varied extensively among studies. Studies reported rates from 29.8 per 100 000 people in Saudi Arabia to 57 per 100 000 people in Bahrain. Specifically, in the UAE, 50% of stroke patients are below the age of 45 years, as compared to the global average where 80 percent of stroke patients are above the age of 65 years.
References: New fast-response stroke units to be set up in Dubai and Abu Dhabi http://www.thenational.ae/uae/health/new-fast-response-stroke-units-to-be-set-up-in-dubai-and-abu-dhabi