Proceedings of the Fifth Latin American Congress on Hypertension: Introductory Remarks

摘要

Ischemic heart disease is a major concern worldwide, in terms of both its impact on the health of affected individuals and the economic burden it places on health systems. Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death globally and is projected to remain the leading cause of death. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 17.5 million people died from cardiovascular disease in 2005, representing 30% of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 7.6 million were due to heart attacks and 5.7 million were due to stroke. Approximately 80% of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. If appropriate action is not taken, by 2015, an estimated 20 million people will die of cardiovascular disease every year, mainly due to heart attacks and strokes.