[Pharmacologic prevention of cardiovascular diseases--2005]

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Western countries, and that is true for Hungary as well, and so will be the case in developing countries in 2025. Cardiovascular diseases kill more than 950000 people only in the USA. 50% of cardiovascular mortality is due to ischemic heart disease, stroke is responsible for 20%. The annual cost of the treatment of cardiovascular illnesses takes more than 330 billion dollars. All these data underline the importance of these illnesses. The aim of cardiovascular prevention is to reduce the incidence of first or recurrent events due to ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke or peripheral artery disease, especially early deaths and disability. In the following article the medical aspects of cardiovascular prevention are summarized. Lifestyle changes and special treatment of particular risk factors are out of scope of this review.