The Challenge of Cardiovascular Disease

In Developing Economies

This report derives from a project conducted at Columbia University during 2003, which examined the economic and social consequences of cardiovascular disease in developing economies. The project followed on from the work of the Commission on Macroeconomics and health, chaired by Professor Jeffrey Sachs. IC Health is associated with this landmark study, as a sponsor and collaborator

 “There is an urgent need to act to stem the tide of risk factors that lead to CVD, in order to prevent a massive increase in the number of people with end stage illness.  In our estimation, in young countries, while the levels of CVD risk factors are high, a two-decade window of opportunity exists to reduce their progression to end organ disease.  If successful, the future costs of death and disability due to CVD will not become an intolerable burden.  We have called this interval “a race against time” to emphasize the importance of taking action now to prevent catastrophic levels of CVD twenty to forty years hence”