1. BY:Lisa Brun
Cardiovascular disease is estimated to be the leading cause of death
and loss of disability-adjusted life years worldwide. Although age-
adjusted cardiovascular death rates have decreased in several
developed countries, rates of this type of disease have risen greatly in
low-income and middle-income countries. A major part of the burden
is carried by such countries. Effective prevention needs a global
strategy based on knowledge of the importance of risk factors for
cardiovascular disease in different geographic regions and among
various ethnic groups.
The high burdens of heart attack, heart failure (In French cardiaque
symptome)and other cardio vascular disease in developing countries
can be attributed to the increasing incidences of atherosclerotic
diseases, most likely caused by urbanization and higher risk factor
levels like obesity, diabetes, hypertension, etc., the relatively young
age at which they manifest, the large sizes of the population and the
high proportion of young adults and middle-aged individuals in these
countries. With urbanization and changing lifestyles, the number of
people with diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure may increase
even more.
For countries in the earliest stage of development, the predominant
circulatory diseases are rheumatic heart disease, nutritional
deficiency–related disorders of the heart muscle and those caused by
other infections. Regions that are experiencing this phase include
Sub-Saharan Africa and the rural areas of South America and South
Asia. During the second phase, infectious diseases are reduced and
nutrition improved. However, diseases related to hypertension become
more common. Regions experiencing this stage include China and
other Asian countries. During the third stage, high fat diets, cigarette
smoking and sedentary lifestyles have become more common. Non-
communicable diseases become predominant with the highest

2. mortality caused by atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases, especially
at ages below 50 years. This phase is found in urban India, Latin
America and the former socialist countries. During the fourth stage,
increased efforts to prevent, diagnose and treat ischemic heart
disease and stroke are able to delay these diseases to more advanced
ages. The regions that have reached this stage include Western
Europe, North America (excluding some parts of Mexico), Australia
and New Zealand.
To reduce the mortality rate due to heart attack(In maladie cardio),
heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases in these developing
countries, education and awareness programs on the different factors
that cause such diseases are vital. Promotion of healthy diets and
lifestyle must be stressed upon. There are numerous possible
strategies for prevention.
Heart diseases rate high on the list of global killers. Analysis of data
from various national registries and international health organizations
including the WHO has allowed researchers to identify broad trends in
both the frequency as well as the causes of heart diseases among a
particular region’s mortality rates.
The World Bank identifies seven major regions in the world based on
socio-economic factors: the high income group including North
America, Western Europe, Australia and Japan; the Latin and South
American countries; the Sub Saharan African countries; the Middle
East and North African countries; the East European and Central Asian
countries; the South Asian countries; and the East Asian and Pacific
nations.
The sub Saharan African nations have the lowest rates of heart
attack(In French cardiaque symptome) victims since most of the
people lack the resources to achieve the kind of sedentary,
prosperous lifestyles that are one of the major causes of heart

3. degeneration.
The increasing prosperity of Latin American, South Asian, East Asian
and Pacific nations on the other hand have led to key lifestyle changes
that have increased the incidence of heart failure in these countries.
Heart diseases cause one fourth to one third of deaths with most
victims dying in their sixties.
The Middle East and North African countries are even further ahead
due to their better economies as reflected in their life expectancy of
early seventies. Heart diseases cause more than one third of the
deaths.
The East European and Central Asian nations suffer from a heavy
burden of heart diseases (In French maladie cardio)due to poor
penetration of information regarding lifestyle and risk factors. In fact,
the percentage of deaths caused by heart diseases is the highest
among all nations – almost sixty percent; there are quite a number of
early deaths and the average life expectancy is in the mid sixties.
The efforts made by health authorities in the high income nations of
Europe and North America have lead to a favorable modification of
lifestyle and bringing down the incidence of heart disease. Most
people live till their eighties with only a third of the deaths are caused
by heart diseases.
To conclude, we see a distinct link between incidence of heart failure
and patients’ socio-economic status across the world. Dissemination
of knowledge regarding healthy lifestyle choices seems to be the key
to success in beating this fatal predator.
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