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Each year, over 1 million Americans suffer a heart attack. Coronary heart disease remains the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. It is estimated the over 53 million Americans have elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol and many warrant treatment. High cholesterol, together with high blood pressure, a family history of heart disease, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle and tobacco use, are all known risk factors for the development of coronary artery disease. Aggressive treatment of the modifiable risk factors can reduce the burden of coronary artery disease.
| Burden of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) |
Prevalence- 12.6 Million
Annual Rates
- Myocardial infarction- 1.1 million
- Mortality- 530,000 (20% of all deaths)
- Cardiac catheterization - 1.4 million
- Percutaneous revascularization- 1.1 million
- Surgical revascularization- 571,00
Annual Cost- $100 Billion
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Lowering serum cholesterol has become a cornerstone of reducing cardiovascular disease risk. Many trials have consistently demonstrated that reducing serum cholesterol reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, even for patients who already have coronary artery disease. Cholesterol appears to play a central role in the development of waxy substances, called plaques, which can accumulate inside blood vessels. When these plaques rupture or erode, heart attacks often follow. Currently, it is increasingly appreciated that cholesterol lowering stabilizes these plaques, and thereby helps to reduce the incidence of heart attacks and coronary death.
Despite the evidence that lowering cholesterol reduces the risk of heart disease, millions remain untreated. Although increasing physical activity and diet are crucial to help reduce risk, they are often inadequate to fully correct cholesterol abnormalities, especially in high-risk patients.
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