State of the Heart: An Overview of the Disease Burden of Cardiovascular Disease from an Epidemiologic Perspective

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are prevalent worldwide and have significant impact on morbidity, mortality, and overall health care costs. Common risk factors include obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, and smoking. Both modifiable and nonmodifiable risks should be accounted for when evaluating and managing patients with cardiovascular diseases. The complex nature of cardiovascular disease is not fully understood. Therefore, primary care physicians must balance what is known, what is suspected, and each patient's individual preferences to create an optimal treatment plan.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Chronic kidney disease; Diabetes mellitus; Hyperlipidemia; Hypertension; Obesity.