The Cardiovascular Challenge
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Cardiovascular diseases contribute to about half of all deaths in industrialized countries. Epidemiological studies demonstrated a similar trend in developing countries. |
WHO: Epidemiological Data
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About 14 million people die each year worldwide because of cardiovascular diseases. |
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About 20% of all deaths worldwide are caused by cardio vascular diseases. |
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About 50% of all deaths in industrialized countries are caused by cardiovascular diseases, the most common disease categories are ischemic heart disease, cerebrovas cular disease and hypertension |
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The most critical challenge to treating physicians is the differential diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes, including: |
Myocardial infarction (Ml),
Unstable angina pectoris,
Stable angina pectoris and
Minor myocardial damage.
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Accurate diagnosis reduces the costs of unnecessary hospital admissions of patients with chest pain. |
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Approximately 35 to 70% of the annual admissions to coronary care units in industrialized countries are considered to be unnecessary admissions |
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This clinical guide on the use of cardiac markers provides an overview of most recent guidelines as issued by the following international associations: |
WHO (World Health Organization,
ACC (American College of Cardiology),
AHA (American Heart Association)
NACB (U.S. National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry) and
ESC (European Society of Cardiology).