From the Guidelines
Cardiovascular risks are factors that increase your chances of developing heart disease, stroke, and other blood vessel problems, and these risks can be managed through lifestyle changes and medical interventions to reduce morbidity, mortality, and improve quality of life. These risks include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol consumption, stress, age, gender, and family history. High blood pressure damages artery walls over time, while elevated cholesterol forms plaque that narrows blood vessels, as noted in the study by 1. Smoking introduces harmful chemicals that damage vessel linings and promote clotting. Diabetes affects blood vessels through high blood sugar, and excess weight forces your heart to work harder.
Regular exercise, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains while limiting salt, saturated fats, and processed foods can reduce these risks. Medications like statins for cholesterol, antihypertensives for blood pressure, and aspirin for clot prevention may be prescribed based on your risk profile, as recommended by 1. Regular check-ups are essential to monitor these risk factors, as many have no symptoms until serious problems develop. Understanding your personal risk factors allows for targeted prevention strategies to maintain heart health.
Some of the key risk factors for cardiovascular disease include:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Unhealthy diet
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Stress
- Age
- Gender
- Family history
According to the study by 1, risk prediction tools can be used to identify those at highest risk of cardiovascular disease and provide preventive measures. These tools can help clinicians determine when, to whom, and how to use these tools, and provide additional support for personalized approach and repeated cardiovascular risk assessment.
Overall, managing cardiovascular risks is crucial to reducing morbidity, mortality, and improving quality of life, and this can be achieved through a combination of lifestyle changes and medical interventions, as supported by the studies by 1, 1, and 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
In the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial (ASCOT), the effect of atorvastatin calcium on fatal and non-fatal coronary heart disease was assessed in 10,305 patients with hypertension, 40 to 80 years of age... without a previous myocardial infarction and with total cholesterol (TC) levels ≤251 mg/dL Additionally, all patients had at least 3 of the following cardiovascular risk factors: male gender (81%), age >55 years (85%), smoking (33%), diabetes (24%), history of CHD in a first-degree relative (26%), TC:HDL >6 (14%), peripheral vascular disease (5%), left ventricular hypertrophy (14%), prior cerebrovascular event (10%), specific ECG abnormality (14%), proteinuria/albuminuria (62%) Atorvastatin calcium significantly reduced the rate of coronary events [either fatal coronary heart disease (46 events in the placebo group vs. 40 events in the atorvastatin calcium group) or non-fatal MI (108 events in the placebo group vs 60 events in the atorvastatin calcium group)] with a relative risk reduction of 36% Atorvastatin calcium also significantly decreased the relative risk for revascularization procedures by 42% Although the reduction of fatal and non-fatal strokes did not reach a pre-defined significance level (p=0.01), a favorable trend was observed with a 26% relative risk reduction
The cardiovascular risks include:
- Coronary heart disease
- Myocardial infarction (MI)
- Stroke
- Revascularization procedures
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Left ventricular hypertrophy
- Prior cerebrovascular event Key cardiovascular risk factors are:
- Male gender
- Age >55 years
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- History of CHD in a first-degree relative
- High total cholesterol (TC) to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio
- Proteinuria/albuminuria 2
From the Research
Overview of Cardiovascular Risks
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a primary cause of global morbidity and mortality, encompassing life-threatening conditions such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral arterial diseases 3. The risks associated with CVD are multifaceted and can be categorized into modifiable and non-modifiable factors.
Modifiable Risk Factors
Modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases include:
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Diabetes mellitus
- Hypertension
- Dyslipidemia These factors can be managed through lifestyle changes and medical interventions, thereby reducing the risk of developing CVD 3, 4, 5.
Non-Modifiable Risk Factors
Non-modifiable risk factors include:
- Age
- Male gender
- Family history These factors cannot be changed but can be considered when assessing an individual's overall risk of developing CVD 3.
Disease Prevalence and Projections
Studies have shown that the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and diseases is expected to increase over the next few decades. For example, the prevalence of hypertension is projected to increase from 51.2% in 2020 to 61.0% in 2050, while the prevalence of diabetes and obesity is also expected to rise 6. Additionally, the prevalence of coronary disease, heart failure, stroke, atrial fibrillation, and total cardiovascular disease is projected to increase, affecting millions of adults by 2050 6.
Management and Intervention
Effective management of cardiovascular risks involves a combination of lifestyle modifications, such as stopping smoking, treating hypertension and dyslipidemia, and using antiplatelet drugs, statins, and other therapies as needed 4, 5. Clinical and public health interventions are necessary to stem and reverse the adverse trends in cardiovascular risk factors and disease prevalence 6.