Integrated Antihypertensive and Statin Treatment Protocols for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Low- and

Andrew E Moran1,2, Obehi Aimiosior1, Reena Gupta1,3

  • 1Resolve to Save Lives, New York, USA.

Global Heart
|December 16, 2024
PubMed

Insights

In low- and middle-income countries, statin use for preventing cardiovascular disease is very low. Integrating statin therapy into existing WHO HEARTS protocols can significantly increase patient access and coverage.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
  • Global Health Initiatives

Background:

  • Preventable cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
  • Statin therapy for primary CVD prevention is underutilized in LMICs, with less than 10% of eligible patients receiving treatment.
  • The World Health Organization (WHO) Global Hearts initiative promotes standardized hypertension and diabetes management protocols (HEARTS).

Discussion:

  • This editorial proposes integrating statin treatment into established WHO HEARTS protocols for hypertension and diabetes.
  • This integration aims to leverage existing healthcare infrastructure and treatment pathways in LMICs.
  • The approach seeks to overcome barriers to statin access and improve CVD prevention strategies.

Key Insights:

  • A significant gap exists in primary cardiovascular disease prevention in LMICs.
  • Existing WHO HEARTS protocols provide a viable framework for expanding statin coverage.
  • Integrating statins into these protocols offers a scalable solution for increasing access.

Outlook:

  • Further research and pilot programs are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of integrated statin treatment.
  • Successful integration could serve as a model for other essential preventive therapies in LMICs.
  • This strategy has the potential to reduce the global burden of cardiovascular disease deaths.

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