Facts about Cardiovascular / Heart Diseases

• CVD made up 16.7 million, or 29.2% of total global deaths according to World Health Report 2003.
• Around 80% of CVD deaths took place in low and middle-income countries.
• By 2010, CVD will be the leading cause of death in developing countries.
• At least 20 million people survive heart attacks and strokes every year; many require continuing costly clinical care.
• Heart disease has no geographic, gender or socio-economic boundaries.

An estimated 16.7 million – or 29.2% of total global deaths – result from the various forms of cardiovascular disease (CVD), many of which are preventable by action on the major primary risk factors: unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and smoking. More than 50% of the deaths and disability from heart disease and strokes, which together kill more than 12 million people each year, can be cut by a combination of simple, cost-effective national efforts and individual actions to reduce major risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and smoking.

And these are no longer only diseases of the developed world: some 80% of all CVD deaths worldwide took place in developing, low and middle-income countries, while these countries also accounted for 86% of the global CVD disease burden. It is estimated that by 2010, CVD will be the leading cause of death in developing countries.

Source: http://www.who.int/dietphysicalactivity/publications/facts/cvd/en/