Despite several advancements in cardiology and heart care, coronary heart disease (CHD) and other cardiovascular complications remain to be the leading cause of mortality across the globe. This study aims to determine the association of changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors with the reduction in CHD mortality.
This population-based observational study included a total of 35,525 men and women aged 30-59 years. The researchers observed the change in cardiovascular risk factors. The cardiovascular risk factors included in the study were serum cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and smoking prevalence. The primary outcome of the study was predicted and observed age-standardized mortality due to CHD.
The study spanned for 40 years, and a significant reduction in cardiovascular risk factors was observed during these years. During the first ten years of the study, the mortality due to CHD was reduced by 82% in men and 84% in women. During the final ten years of the study, there was a 69% reduction in CHD mortality in men and 64% reduction in women. This reduction was mainly attributed to the reduction in cardiovascular risk factors.
The research concluded that the reduction of cardiovascular risk factors resulted in a reduced incidence of CHD in both men and women.
Ref: https://www.bmj.com/content/352/bmj.i721
