Extending the limits of cardiovascular disease risk estimation : the roles of HDL cholesterol, resting heart rate and advancing years

Abstract

Background: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVD) including coronary heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease are the commonest causes of death Worldwide. The underlying atherosclerosis starts early in life, progresses slowly and is often extensive by the time of clinical presentation. While recent advances in medical treatment of these diseases have resulted in reductions in age-specific mortality rates, myocardial infarction, stroke or aortic aneurysms can kill quickly, often before medical care is available. This makes treatments either not applicable or palliative if irreversible damage has already occurred. For these reasons prevention of CVD should be considered a key element of health policy.