CVD Prevention
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is one of the major health problems for Australians and is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. It is therefore important that all medical practitioners are familiar with the well documented risk factors for CVD.
CVD is an all-encompassing term including diseases such as Acute coronary syndromes (ACS), Heart failure, Myocardial infarction (MI), Atrial fibrillation (AF) and Peripheral vascular disease.
Guidelines reviewing the evidence and evidence-based recommendations for CVD risk for practice make the following claims about the state of CVD in Australia:
- The prevalence of CVD has increased by almost 20% over the last decade, with the total burden expected to increase in the future due to the growing number of elderly Australians, among whom these diseases are most common.
- The increasing prevalence of CVD relates strongly to modifiable physiological and lifestyle risk factors.
- Modifications to these risk factors have been clearly shown to reduce mortality and morbidity.
CVD risk calculators such as the Framingham Heart Study Prediction Score Sheets or the New Zealand Cardiovascular Risk Factor Calculator assist medical professionals to assign overall risk.
Guidelines and clinical resources
