From the Guidelines
Diseases and conditions are caused by a complex interplay of factors, including genetic, environmental, lifestyle, infectious, and physiological causes, with the most recent evidence suggesting that person-centered models of care are essential for addressing the complex health care needs of individuals with multiple chronic conditions 1. The causes of diseases and conditions can be broadly categorized into several key areas, including:
- Genetic factors, such as inherited mutations or predispositions that can make individuals more susceptible to certain conditions, such as cystic fibrosis or sickle cell anemia
- Environmental causes, which encompass exposure to toxins, pollutants, radiation, or other harmful substances that can trigger disease development
- Lifestyle factors, like poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and chronic stress, which significantly contribute to conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers
- Infectious causes, which involve pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites that invade the body and cause illness, ranging from common colds to malaria or HIV
- Physiological causes, which relate to abnormal functioning of body systems, including autoimmune responses where the body attacks its own tissues, hormonal imbalances, or degenerative processes that occur with aging As noted in a study published in 2006, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is often a consequence of systemic disease processes that affect multiple arterial circulations, including atherosclerosis, degenerative diseases, dysplastic disorders, vascular inflammation, and thromboembolism 1. Additionally, a study from 2015 highlights the importance of considering coexisting chronic illnesses, such as arthritis, cancer, congestive heart failure, depression, emphysema, falls, hypertension, incontinence, stage 3 or worse chronic kidney disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke, which may require medications or lifestyle management and can have a significant impact on an individual's quality of life 1. The most effective approach to addressing the causes of diseases and conditions is to adopt a person-centered model of care, which requires a focused assessment of the patient narrative, a plan of care codesigned by the patient and clinician, and an iterative reassessment or adjustment of the patient’s goals for care over time 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Causes of Disease
The causes of a disease or condition can be attributed to various factors, including:
- Social conditions, such as socioeconomic status and social support, which are considered "fundamental causes" of disease 2
- Individually-based risk factors, such as diet, cholesterol level, and exercise, which are relatively proximal causes of disease 2
- Obesity, which is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD) 3
- Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking, which are directly related to CHD 3
- Dyslipidemia, which is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease 4
- Genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors, which interact with each other and contribute to the occurrence and progression of diseases 5
Risk Factors
Some of the specific risk factors that contribute to disease include:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Unhealthy diet
Underlying Mechanisms
The underlying mechanisms that contribute to disease are complex and multifaceted, involving:
- Inflammatory processes, which play a role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease 6
- Epigenetic-mediated interactions between genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors, which influence disease pathogenesis 5
- Access to important resources, such as healthcare and social support, which affect disease outcomes 2